Liquid filter, assembly, system, and methods

ABSTRACT

A filter cartridge  38  includes a first endcap  41  defining a first open aperture and having at least first and second protrusions extending from a wall along the aperture and into the first open aperture. The first protrusion is spaced from the second protrusion in both a vertical direction and a circumferential direction. The filter cartridge also includes filter media  44  and a second endcap  42 . The filter cartridge is mountable in a filter bowl  36  having an inner liner assembly, and the bowl and the inner liner assembly is connectable to a filter head to form a filter system. The filter system can have any one or combination of the following features: a filter lock-out mechanism to ensure that the filter head and the filter bowl are not connectable unless there is a proper filter cartridge installed therein; an automatic drain mechanism to drain the filter bowl of liquid before the filter cartridge is removed from the bowl; and a cartridge retention mechanism, to ensure that the filter cartridge remains with the filter bowl after the filter bowl has been removed from the filter head. Adaptor rings can be utilized in order to test other types of filter elements in the system, when those other types of filter elements do not have the protrusion arrangement. Assemblies, methods of servicing, methods of installing, methods of use, and methods of retaining can be practiced.

This application is being filed on 25 Apr. 2008, as a PCT InternationalPatent application in the name of Donaldson Company, Inc., a U.S.national corporation, applicant for the designation of all countriesexcept the US, and Bradley S. Honermann, Kathryn A. Legault, John R.Hacker and Mark S. Emery, citizens of the U.S., applicants for thedesignation of the US only, and claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/926,547 filed Apr. 27, 2007 and U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/955,954 filed Aug. 15, 2007.These applications are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to filtration assemblies and methods. Inparticular, this disclosure relates to filter assemblies and methods foruse in liquid filtration, such as lube filters, hydraulic filters, andfuel filters.

BACKGROUND

Filters are commonly used in connection with lubrication systems andfuel systems for internal combustion engines, and hydraulic systems forheavy-duty equipment. Filters are also used in many other types ofliquid systems. In these types of systems, the filter is changedperiodically. In the art, there are at least two standard types offilters used. One type is a spin-on canister filter, while the other isa bowl-cartridge filter.

Bowl-cartridge filters typically include a reusable bowl holding areplaceable filter element (filter cartridge). Bowl-cartridge filtersare sometimes preferred instead of spin-on canister filters due todisposal or other issues. Bowl-cartridge filters are mounted onto afilter head, and liquid to be cleaned passes through the filter head,into the bowl, through the replaceable filter cartridge, out of thebowl, and back into the filter head. After a period of use, thebowl-cartridge filter is removed from the filter head, and thereplaceable filter cartridge is removed from the reusable bowl. The oldfilter cartridge is discarded and replaced with a new filter cartridge.The new filter cartridge is operably-mounted into the reusable bowl toprovide a refurbished bowl-cartridge filter. This refurbishedbowl-cartridge filter, containing the new filter cartridge, is thenmounted onto the filter head.

Some problems with existing arrangements include the mess that is causedwhen servicing the bowl-cartridge filter. That is, when the bowl isremoved from the filter head, it typically has oil, hydraulic fluid, orwhatever fluid is being filtered within it. While removing the bowl fromthe filter head, the fact that the bowl has this liquid in it can leadto spills, drips, and inconvenience regarding disposal of this liquid.Improvements in filter design are desired to deal with these issues.

Other problems include the possibility of forgetting to replace thefilter cartridge after removing the old filter cartridge. That is, afterremoving the old filter cartridge for servicing, it can be possible toreplace the bowl back onto the filter head without operably inserting anew filter cartridge. This can lead to disastrous consequences for theequipment that needs the filtration. Furthermore, when there aremultiple filter assemblies within close proximity of each other on onesystem, sometimes on a common filter head, the person servicing thefilters can sometimes get mixed-up regarding which filter assembly goeson where—putting the wrong filter assembly onto the wrong mount on thefilter head can lead to catastrophic results. Improvements to addressthese issues are desirable.

SUMMARY

To address these and other problems, in one aspect, a filter cartridgeis provided. The filter cartridge includes a first endcap defining afirst open aperture; a tubular construction of filter media; and asecond endcap. The first endcap holds a first endcap seal member. Thefirst endcap defines an aperture wall lining the first open aperture. Atleast first and second protrusions extend from the aperture wall andinto the first open aperture. The first protrusion is spaced from thesecond protrusion in a vertical direction along the aperture wall. Thefirst protrusion is also circumferentially spaced from the secondprotrusion along the aperture wall.

In another aspect, a filter assembly is provided including a bowlincluding a surrounding wall defining an interior volume; a filtercartridge removably oriented within the interior volume of the bowl; aporous inner filter support oriented within an open filter interior ofthe filter cartridge; and a basket. The filter support includes at leastone projection extending radially inwardly therefrom. The basketincludes at least one cantilevered leg extending axially in a directiontoward the end of the bowl. The basket also includes a grooved wallextending axially in a direction toward the open mouth of the bowl. Thebasket is rotationally movable from a first locked position in which theleg axially abuts the at least one projection on the filter support andan unlocked position in which the leg is free of axial abutment with theprojection and permits the basket to move in a direction toward the endof the bowl. The grooved wall is constructed and arranged to engage aportion of the filter cartridge and rotate the basket from the firstlocked position to the unlocked position.

In another aspect, a filter system is provided including a filterassembly, as characterized above, and further including a filter headselectively connectable to the bowl with the bowl and the filter headhaving mating structure permitting the bowl to be selectively removablyattached to the filter head at the mouth.

In another aspect, a method of installing a filter cartridge into afilter bowl includes orienting a filter cartridge having a tubularconstruction of filter media into a filter bowl, the filter bowl havingan inner filter support and a core piece within the inner filtersupport, the core piece holding a basket. While orienting, the methodincludes pushing the filter cartridge against the basket piece todisengage the core piece and the inner filter support. The methodfurther includes after the step of disengaging, axially moving both thefilter cartridge and the core piece relative to the inner filtersupport.

In another aspect, a filter assembly is provided including a bowlincluding a surrounding wall, an open mouth, an end opposite of themouth, and a drainage aperture at the end opposite of the mouth that isin fluid communication with the interior volume. A filter cartridge isremovably oriented within the interior volume of the bowl and includes atubular construction of filter media defining an open filter interior. Aporous inner filter support is oriented within the open filter interior.A drain valve assembly including a plug is moveably oriented between asealed position and a drainage position. The sealed position includesthe plug blocking fluid flow between the interior volume of the bowl andthe drainage aperture. The drainage position includes the plug beingoriented relative to the bowl to permit the flow from the interiorvolume of the bowl through the drainage aperture.

In another aspect, a method for draining liquid from a filter assemblyincludes at least partially unscrewing a bowl containing a filtercartridge from a filter head and permitting a spring to axially move aplug from a sealed position to a drainage position, the bowl having aninterior volume and a fluid outlet port. The sealed position includes aplug blocking fluid flow between the interior volume of the bowl and thefluid outlet port and by blocking fluid flow between an upstream side ofthe filter cartridge and a downstream of the filter cartridge. Thedrainage position includes the plug being oriented to permit fluid flowbetween the interior volume of the bowl and the fluid outlet port of thebowl.

In another aspect, a filter assembly is provided including a bowl, afilter cartridge removably oriented within the bowl, a porous innerfilter support oriented within the open filter interior of the filtercartridge, and a core piece operably oriented within an interior of theporous inner filter support. The core piece includes a post. The filtercartridge further includes a retention mechanism removably connected tothe post.

In another aspect, a method for servicing a filter system includesremoving a filter assembly, including a bowl containing a filtercartridge from a filter head. Next, the method includes during the stepof removing, retaining the filter cartridge to the bowl by gripping witha pair of opposing fingers radially extending toward each other on thefilter cartridge with a button on a core piece attached to the bowl.

In another aspect, an adaptor ring for use with a filter bowl isprovided. The adaptor ring includes a circular band defining an openaperture. The band has an outer radial surface and an inside radialsurface. The inside radial surface defines an aperture wall. At leastfirst and second protrusions extend from the aperture wall and into theopen aperture. The first protrusion is spaced from the second protrusionin a vertical direction along the aperture wall. The first protrusion iscircumferentially spaced from the second protrusion along the aperturewall.

In another aspect, a method of using an adaptor ring to unlock a corepiece and the filter support is provided. The method includes orientingan adaptor ring having at least first and second protrusions into afilter bowl. A filter bowl has an inner filter support mounted therein.The filter bowl further has a core piece within an inner filter support.The core piece holds a basket. The method also includes while orienting,pushing the first protrusion against the basket and then the secondprotrusion against the basket to disengage the core piece and the innerfilter support. This allows for conducting a step, after disengaging, ofaxially moving the core piece relative to the inner filter support.

In another aspect, a filter assembly is provided including a bowl havingan open mouth and a drainage aperture; a filter cartridge removablyoriented within the interior volume of the bowl; a porous inner filtersupport oriented within the open filter interior of the filtercartridge; and a core piece operably oriented within the interior of theporous inner filter support. The core piece includes a plug movablyoriented between a sealed position and a drainage position within thedrainage aperture of the bowl. The sealed position includes the plugblocking fluid flow between the interior volume of the bowl and thedrainage aperture, and the drainage position includes the plug beingoriented relative to the bowl to permit flow from the interior volume ofthe bowl through the drainage aperture.

In another aspect, a method for draining liquid from a filter assemblyincludes at least partially unscrewing a bowl containing a filtercartridge from a filter head and permitting a spring to axially move acore piece having a plug from a sealed position to a drainage position.The sealed position includes the plug blocking fluid flow between theinterior volume of the bowl and the fluid outlet port by blocking flowthrough a section of an inner filter support; and the drainage positionincluding the plug being oriented relative to the inner filter supportto permit flow through the section of the inner filter supportpermitting fluid flow between the interior volume of the bowl and fluidoutlet port of the bowl.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a filter system including a plurality offilter assemblies, one of which shows the filter cartridge removed froma filter bowl, constructed according to principles of this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a filter assembly including a filtercartridge and filter bowl, constructed according to principles of thisdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective, cross-sectional view of the filter assemblydepicted in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the filter assembly depicted in FIG.2;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a filter cartridge utilized in the filterassembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the filter cartridge depicted inFIG. 5, the cross-section being taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective, cross-sectional view of the filter cartridge ofFIGS. 5 and 6, the cross-section being taken along the line 7-7 of FIG.5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective, cross-sectional view of only the filter bowland inner assembly, with the filter cartridge being removed therefrom;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the filter assembly similar to FIG.4 and highlighting a drain valve feature;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the region of the drainvalve feature of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a filter system, similar to FIG. 1,but depicting only a single filter assembly connected to a filter head;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the drain valve featuredepicted in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an exploded, perspective view of a drain valve assemblyutilized in the filter assembly of FIGS. 1-12;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the drain valve assembly of FIG. 13, whenassembled together;

FIG. 15 is a perspective, cross-sectional view of the assembled drainvalve assembly of FIGS. 13 and 14;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of an endcap of the filter cartridge as it isready to engage a core piece and filter support, remaining portions ofthe filter cartridge being omitted for purposes of explanation;

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the view of FIG. 16, showing theendcap, core piece, and a portion of the filter support;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of FIG. 17 and showing the full extensionof the filter support, while having a portion of the endcap broken away;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the basket within a basket holderof the core piece and in a first locked position relative to the filtersupport;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view analogous to FIG. 19, but showing thebasket in a second locked position relative to the filter support;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view analogous to FIGS. 19 and 20 but showingthe basket in an unlocked position relative to the filter support;

FIG. 22 is a the same perspective view as FIG. 21, but showing a portionof the basket and basket holder broken away in order to show otherparts;

FIG. 23 is a partial cross-section, top plan view showing the endcapengaged against the basket and basket holder as the basket is rotatedfrom its first locked position to its second locked position;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the basket;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the arrangement of FIG. 23;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the arrangement of FIG. 25, but nothaving structure cut off in cross-section as shown in FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is an enlarged, perspective, partially cross-sectional view ofthe arrangement of FIG. 25 at the portion shown in FIG. 25;

FIG. 28 is a perspective, partially cross-sectional view of thecartridge end cap in engagement with the basket and basket holder,analogous to the view of FIG. 25, but showing the basket in the firstlocked position;

FIG. 29 is a top plan view of the arrangement of FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is an enlarged, perspective view of the portion shown in FIG.28;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the cartridge endcap engaged with thebasket, when the basket is in the unlocked position;

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of a bypass filter cartridge utilizedwith the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 33 is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of anadapter arrangement and how it would be utilized in the filter assembly;

FIG. 34 is a top plan view of the adapter of FIG. 33;

FIG. 35 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an adapterarrangement;

FIG. 36 is a top plan view of the adapter arrangement of FIG. 35;

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of an adapterarrangement;

FIG. 38 is a top plan view of the adapter arrangement of FIG. 37;

FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view of the filter bowl not being able tomate with the filter head because of the lock-out arrangement;

FIG. 40 is an exploded, perspective view of another filter systemincluding a filter assembly and a filter head, constructed according toprinciples of this disclosure;

FIG. 41 is a perspective view of the filter assembly, including a filterbowl and a filter cartridge illustrated in FIG. 40;

FIG. 42 is a perspective view of the filter cartridge illustrated inFIG. 40;

FIG. 43 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of the filter cartridgedepicted in FIG. 42;

FIG. 44 is a perspective view of the filter bowl depicted in FIGS. 40and 41;

FIG. 45 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of the filter bowl depictedin FIG. 44 and showing an inner liner assembly;

FIG. 46 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of one embodiment of aninner liner assembly depicted in FIG. 45;

FIG. 47 is an exploded, perspective view of the components of FIG. 46;

FIG. 48 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of the filter bowl, innerliner assembly, and filter head of certain preferred embodimentsconstructed according to principles of this disclosure;

FIG. 49 is an exploded, perspective view of an adaptor, basket, andportion of an inner filter support tube that can be seen in thecross-sectional view of FIG. 48;

FIG. 50 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a filter systemincluding a filter head, a filter bowl, and filter cartridge operablyassembled together, constructed according to principles of thisdisclosure;

FIG. 51 is a top-perspective view of an endcap that is utilized on oneembodiment of a filter cartridge, constructed according to principles ofthis disclosure;

FIG. 52 is an exploded, perspective view of the endcap of FIG. 51 andthe basket and inner filter support shown in FIG. 49;

FIG. 53 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a portion of a drainvalve in a closed position and as illustrated in FIG. 50;

FIG. 54 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of the filter system shownin FIG. 50, but in FIG. 54 showing the filter head partially removedfrom the filter bowl and showing the drain valve mechanism in an openposition;

FIG. 55 is an enlarged portion of the cross-section depicted in FIG. 54;

FIG. 56 is a partial, schematic perspective view of an endcap engaging aplug in a center piece, which would occur when the filter cartridge wasremoved from the filter bowl, the filter media not being depicted forpurposes of clarity, constructed according to principles of thisdisclosure;

FIG. 57 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 56;and

FIG. 58 is a schematic top plan view of the core piece of FIG. 47.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I. The Embodiments of FIGS. 1-39 A. Overview

An example embodiment of a filtration system including a filter assemblyand a filter head is depicted in FIGS. 1-39. It should be realized thatmany examples are envisioned and not illustrated in the drawings. FIG. 1shows a filter system 30, including a filter head 32 and a filterassembly 34. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, there is one common filterhead 32 accommodating at least first and second filter assemblies 34.Also attached to the filter head 32 is a bypass filter assembly 35. Thefilter assemblies 34 are full-flow filters, while the filter assembly 35is a bypass filter assembly.

In FIG. 1, one of the filter assemblies 34 is shown in an exploded,perspective view as including filter bowl 36 and a removable andreplaceable filter cartridge 38.

Each of the filter assemblies 34, 35 is selectively connectable andmountable on the filter head 32. The filter head 32 is connected withother equipment, including a lubrication system of an engine, a fuelsystem for an engine, a hydraulic system for heavy-duty equipment, andgenerators for industrial use.

In the embodiment illustrated, the filter assembly 34 includes featuresincluding a lock-out mechanism, an auto-drain valve mechanism, and acartridge retention mechanism. Each of these features can be implementedindependently of the other features. The particular embodimentillustrated in the drawings shows all three features integrated into thesame filter assembly. One skilled in the art will appreciate that eachfeature can be implemented independently of the others.

In general, the lock-out mechanism ensures that the filter system 30 isnot accidentally operated with equipment without the filter cartridge 38installed therein (see FIG. 39, for example). Furthermore, in theparticular system 30, the lock-out mechanism helps to ensure that thefilter cartridge that goes within the bypass filter assembly 35 is notmistakenly used with the filter cartridge of the full-flow filterassemblies 34. The equipment upon which the filter system 30 is mountedis protected by ensuring that the filter head 32 and the filter bowl 36cannot be operably connected unless there is a filter cartridge 38operably oriented within the filter bowl 36 (FIG. 39). It also protectsthe equipment by ensuring that the correct filter cartridge 38 ismounted within the filter bowl 36, rather than, for example, the bypassfilter cartridge utilized in the bypass filter assembly 35. Details onan example lock-out mechanism are described in Section K of thisdisclosure.

An auto-drain valve mechanism can be included in the filter system 30and will allow for draining of the filtered liquid from the filter bowl36 during servicing of the filter system 30. The auto-drain valvemechanism allows for draining of the filter bowl 36 before the filtercartridge 38 is removed from the bowl 36. An example embodiment isdescribed in Section L of this disclosure.

The filter system 30, in this embodiment, also includes a cartridgeretention mechanism. This feature allows for attachment of the filtercartridge 38 to the filter bowl 36 after the filter assembly 34 has beencompletely removed from the filter head 32. Section M describes anexample embodiment of a cartridge retention mechanism.

For purposes of organization, it should be understood that the followingdescription will be of various pieces of the particular, illustratedembodiment. After each of the pieces in this embodiment is described,the way in which the pieces interact to provide the above and otherfunctions are described. Methods of operation, assembly, filtering, andservicing are also described. The following are example embodimentsonly. A variety of implementations can be made without departing fromthe scope of the disclosure. Not all of the reference numerals are shownon each FIG., for purposes of clarity.

B. Filter Cartridge 38, FIGS. 6 and 7

Reference is made to FIGS. 6 and 7, which illustrate one embodiment offilter cartridge 38 usable in this arrangement. In the embodiment shown,the filter cartridge 38 includes first and second opposite endcaps 41,42 and a tubular construction of filter media 44 extending between thefirst and second endcaps 41, 42. In the embodiment shown, the media 44is cylindrical in construction and defines an open filter interior 46. Avariety of different types of media 44 can be used and will depend uponthe particular fluid that is being filtered. In the embodiment shown,the media 44 is pleated media 48. The pleated media 48 can includecellulose, synthetic, and blends of synthetic and cellulose, forexample.

In general, fluid to be filtered flows through the media 44, whichfunctions to remove particulate or other debris from the fluid beforeflowing into the open filter 46. In some systems, it will be possible tooperate the filter system 30 in a reverse-flow manner, in which theliquid to be filtered flows from the open filter interior 46, throughthe media 44, and to a region outside of the media 44.

The first endcap 41, depicted, defines a first open aperture 50, whichis in fluid communication with the open filter interior 46. The firstendcap 41 further includes an axially-extending neck 52 protruding froman outward axial surface 54. The neck 52 defines a groove 56 along anouter radial surface 58 of the neck 52. Seated within the groove 56along the radial surface 58 is a first seal member 60. The first sealmember 60 forms a releasable seal 62 (FIG. 11) with an adaptor 64 whenthe filter cartridge 38 is operably assembled in the filter system 30with the filter head 32 operably engaged with the filter bowl 36.

The first endcap 41 defines an aperture wall 66 lining the first openaperture 50. The first open aperture 50 in the embodiment shown, iscircular and defines an inner diameter. The neck 52 defines an innerradial surface 68 that is on an opposite side as the outer radialsurface 58. In the embodiment shown, the first endcap 41 further definesa filter media holding section 70. The filter media holding section 70is the portion of the first endcap 41 that is secured to the filtermedia 44 and contains the media 44 on radial sides thereof. In theembodiment shown, the filter media section 70 includes an inner mediawall 72 defining an inner radial surface 74, which forms part of theaperture wall 66. The inner wall surface 74 of the inner media wall 72is spaced radially inwardly relative to the neck inner radial surface68. The filter media holding section 70 further includes an outer mediawall 76 that circumscribes remaining portions of the first endcap 41.The first endcap 41 further includes other features, in the embodimentshown, and those features will be further described below after thesecond endcap 42 is described.

Second endcap 42 is at an end of the filter cartridge 38 opposite fromthe first endcap 41. The second endcap 42 is secured to a second end ofthe filter media 44. It defines a second open aperture 78 incommunication with the open filter interior 46. The second endcap 42holds a second endcap seal member 80.

In the embodiment shown, the second endcap 42 defines a second axiallyextending neck 82. The neck 82 defines inner and outer radial surfaces84, 85. The second endcap seal member 80 is held by the second axiallyextending neck 82 on one of the radial surfaces, and in the embodimentshown, is held by the outer radial surface 85. In the embodiment shown,the neck 82 includes a groove 86 in the radial surface 85, which holdsthe second seal member 80. The second seal member 80 forms a releasableseal 88 (FIG. 12) with a disk 90. The disk 90 is secured to the bowl 36,and is further described below.

The filter cartridge 38 further includes, in the embodiment shown, acentering arrangement 92 (FIG. 5) to assist with positioning andcentering the filter cartridge 38 relative to the filter head 32. In theembodiment shown, the centering arrangement 92 includes a plurality ofstand-offs or projections 94 extending axially from the outward axialsurface 54 of the first endcap 41. In the embodiment shown, theprojections 94 include both first projections 95 and second projections96. The second projections 96 are taller than the first projections 95.The second projections 96, in cross section, have an L-shaped crosssection and in preferred embodiments have ribs or flanges 98 to addstrength. The second projections 96 assist in holding the filtercartridge 38 in place relative to the adaptor 64 (FIG. 11). As can beseen in FIG. 11, the adaptor 64 is contained between the secondprojections 96 and the first neck 52.

In the illustrated embodiment, the filter cartridge 58 further includesa retention mechanism 100. In the embodiment shown, the retentionmechanism 100 is spaced both axially and radially from the neck 52. Theretention mechanism 100 cooperates with other structure to retain thecartridge 38 with the filter bowl 36 during servicing. Details on thisoperation are discussed later below in Section M of this disclosure.

In the embodiment shown, the retention mechanism 100 is radiallycentered within the first open aperture 50. While a variety ofimplementations are contemplated, in the embodiment shown, the retentionmechanism 100 includes a flexible semi-tubular arrangement 102 (FIG. 5)secured to a portion of the endcap 41, for example, the neck 52. By theterm “semi-tubular”, it is meant that when viewing in top plan, such asFIG. 5, overall it may be generally tubular in shape, but notnecessarily have a closed perimeter, and the perimeter can form anirregular, non-circular shape, or it may also form a circle, in someembodiments shown.

Still in reference to FIG. 5, the semi-tubular arrangement 102 has agripper arrangement 104 and a release arrangement 106. In general, thegripper arrangement 104 is useful in providing a releasable connectionwith other structure in the filter bowl 36 to allow for the cartridge 38to remain retained in the filter bowl 36 when servicing system 30. Therelease arrangement 106 is useful in providing a convenient, quick, andeasy to use mechanism to release the filter cartridge 38 from the filterbowl 36, during servicing, and allow the cartridge 38 to be removed fromthe bowl 36.

As embodied herein, the gripper arrangement 104 includes a pair ofopposing fingers 108, 109 radially extending into the end cap aperture50. As will be explained below, in Section M of this disclosure, thefingers 108, 109 engage structure (a button 326, which is part of a corepiece 222) in the filter bowl 36.

As embodied herein, the release arrangement 106 includes a pair ofopposing tabs 111, 112. In the embodiment shown, each tab 111, 112 islocated about 90 degrees relative to the fingers 108, 109. Tab 111 isconnected to finger 108 by way of rib 114, while tab 112 is connected tofinger 109 by way of rib 115.

The tabs 111, 112 are depressible or compressible in a direction towardeach other, and because of the connection of the tabs 111, 112 to thefingers 108, 109 by way of the ribs 114, 115, upon squeezing the tabs111, 112 toward each other, the ribs 114, 115 move the fingers 108, 109away from each other. Moving the fingers 108, 109 away from each otherwill release the filter cartridge 38 from the corresponding structure inthe filter bowl 36.

The filter cartridge 38 further includes a protrusion arrangement 118(FIG. 5) extending into the first open aperture 50. The protrusionarrangement 118 cooperates, in one embodiment with the lock-outarrangement described in Section K below. In the embodiment shown, theprotrusion arrangement 118 includes at least first and secondprotrusions 121, 122 extending from the aperture wall 66 and into thefirst open aperture 50. By reviewing FIGS. 6 and 7, it can be seen howin the preferred embodiment, the first protrusion 121 is spaced from thesecond protrusion 122 in a vertical direction along the aperture wall66. That is, in the embodiment shown, the first protrusion 121 isvertically lower than the second protrusion 122. By reviewing FIGS. 6and 7, it can further be appreciated that the first protrusion 121 iscircumferentially-spaced from the second protrusion 122 along theaperture wall 66. In preferred embodiments, the vertical distancebetween first and second protrusions is between 2-30% of the distance ofthe inner diameter of the first open aperture 50.

In preferred embodiments, the first protrusion 121 extends into thefirst open aperture 50 no greater than 40% of the inner diameter of thefirst open aperture 50. Similarly, the second protrusion 122 extendsinto the first open aperture 50 no greater than 40% of the innerdiameter of the first open aperture 50. In the preferred embodimentillustrated, the first and second protrusions 121, 122 extend a sameamount into the first open aperture 50. In other embodiments, one of thefirst and second protrusions 121, 122 can be longer than the other.

Attention is directed to FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, there is a top plan view ofthe filter cartridge 38. In the embodiment shown, the protrusionarrangement 118 further includes at least a third protrusion 123extending from the aperture wall 66 and into the first open aperture 50.The third protrusion 123 is circumferentially-spaced from the firstprotrusion 121 and the second protrusion 122. The third protrusion 123is vertically spaced from only one of either the first protrusion 121 orthe second protrusion 122; in other words, the third protrusion 123 isevenly spaced at the same vertical distance along the aperture wall 66with only one of either the first protrusion 121 or the secondprotrusion 122.

In FIG. 5, it can be seen that the protrusion arrangement 118, in theembodiment shown, further includes at least a fourth protrusion 124. Thefourth protrusion 124 is shown extending from the aperture wall 66 andinto the first open aperture 50. The fourth protrusion 124 iscircumferentially-spaced from the first protrusion 121, the secondprotrusion 122, and the third protrusion 123. The fourth protrusion 124is vertically-spaced from only two of the first protrusion 121, thesecond protrusion 122, or the third protrusion 123. In other words, thefourth protrusion 124 is vertically even with only two of the firstprotrusion 121, the second protrusion 122, and the third protrusion 123.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, the third protrusion 123 isvertically-spaced from the second protrusion 122 and the fourthprotrusion 124, while it is vertically even with the first protrusion121. Also, in the specific illustrated embodiment, the fourth protrusion124 is vertically even with the second protrusion 122, while beingvertically spaced from the first protrusion 121 and the third protrusion123.

While the embodiment of FIG. 5 identifies the first protrusion at 121,it could also be located at the physical location of the thirdprotrusion 123. Likewise, while the second protrusion is shown in FIG. 5at reference numeral 122, it could also be at the location shown atfourth protrusion 124. In other words, in one contemplated embodiment,the protrusion arrangement 118 can include only a protrusion located at121 and a protrusion located at 122. Another variation includes theprotrusion arrangement 118 as including a protrusion only at 121 andonly at 124. Another variation of the protrusion arrangement 118includes a protrusion only at 123 and 122. Another variation includesthe protrusion arrangement 118 as including a protrusion only at 123 andonly at 124. The particular embodiment illustrated has the protrusionarrangement 118 as including four protrusions at 121, 122, 123, and 124.Additional protrusions can be utilized to help cooperate with the otherfeatures of the assembly 34, but in the embodiment of FIG. 5, there areonly four protrusions depicted.

In the embodiment shown, for the protrusion arrangement 118, two of thefirst protrusion 121, second protrusion 122, third protrusion 123, andfourth protrusion 124 are circumferentially-spaced within 45 degrees ofeach other (for example, 10-20 degrees), and a remaining two of thefirst protrusion 121, second protrusion 122, third protrusion 123, andfourth protrusion 124 are located within 45 degrees of each other (forexample, 10-20 degrees). In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, thefirst protrusion 121 and second protrusion 122 arecircumferentially-spaced within 45 degrees of each other, while thethird protrusion 123 and fourth protrusion 124 arecircumferentially-spaced within 45 degrees of each other. In general, inpreferred embodiments, the first protrusion 121 and the secondprotrusion 122 are circumferentially-spaced within 50 degrees of eachother.

In some arrangements, one of the protrusions will be located greaterthan 45 degrees relative to the other protrusion. For example, consideran embodiment in which the protrusion arrangement 118 includes a firstprotrusion at 121, and the second protrusion is located where the fourthprotrusion 124 is located—in such an embodiment, the protrusions arelocated greater than 45 degrees relative to each other. In such a case,it could be said that the first protrusion 121 and the second protrusionlocated at reference numeral 124 are circumferentially-spaced greaterthan 45 degrees of each other. An analogous embodiment would include afirst protrusion at reference numeral 123 and a second protrusion atreference numeral 122.

C. The Filter Head 32 and Adaptor 64

In FIGS. 1, 11, and 39, a schematic depiction of filter head 32 isshown. The filter head 32 in the embodiment shown has an inlet conduit128 (FIG. 1) and an outlet conduit 130. As mentioned above, in theparticular example shown in FIG. 1, the filter head 32 shows connectionswith three filter assemblies, two of which are full-flow filterassemblies 34, and one of which is a bypass filter assembly 35. Ofcourse, this is just an example, and other arrangements can include onlya single filter assembly 34 connected to a filter head 32. The filterhead 32 is connected to other equipment, such that liquid to be filteredflows into the filter head 32 through the inlet conduit 128 and thenexits the filter head 32 by flowing through the outlet conduit 130. Insome example arrangements, the filter head 32 is constructed of a castmetal part.

The filter head 32 includes mating structure 132 for selectiveengagement with the filter bowl 36. In the embodiment shown, the matingstructure 118 includes threads 134. The threads 134 are illustrated asbeing along an outer radial surface of the filter head 32. Of course,the threads 134 can also be located on an inner radial surface of thefilter head 32. In addition, other ways of connecting the bowl 36 to thefilter head 32 are contemplated, as conventionally known in the art.

In FIG. 11, it can be seen that the adaptor 64 is connected to theoutlet conduit 130, in this example, by way of threads 136. In thismanner, the adaptor 64 can be selectively secured to the filter head 32through engagement through the threads 136. Other ways can also be usedto attach the adaptor 64 to the filter head 32, including, for example,press-fit, adhesive, welding, or making the adaptor 64 integral to thehead 32.

In the embodiment shown, the adaptor 64 includes a funnel 138circumscribing a central, open aperture 140. Extending from the funnel138 is a cylindrical wall 142. The wall 142 becomes positioned betweenthe first neck 52 and the second projection 96 of the first endcap 91.The wall 142 defines an inner radial surface 144, which provides asurface against which seal 62 (FIG. 11) is formed between the filtercartridge 38 and the adaptor 64.

Extending from an inner wall of the funnel surface 138 is a plurality ofribs 146. The ribs 146, in this embodiment, cooperate with the lock-outmechanism (Section K, below) in that they interfere with a portion ofthe filter bowl 36 when the cartridge 38 is not operably oriented withinthe filter bowl 36, and the engagement between the ribs 146 and thestructure within the filter bowl 36 prevents the filter head 32 fromthreadably engaging the filter bowl 36. See FIG. 39 for an example ofwhen the ribs 146 engage end rims 311, 354 of an inner assembly 364, asdescribed more fully below in Section K of this disclosure.

From reviewing FIG. 11, it can also be seen how the filter head 32 formsa seal 148 with the bowl 36, when the seal 136 is operably-mounted onthe filter head 132.

D. Filter Bowl 36

Attention is directed to FIG. 8, in which a perspective, cross-sectionalview of the filter bowl 36 is illustrated. In the embodiment shown, thefilter bowl 36 includes a surrounding wall 150 defining an open interiorvolume 152 for receiving and holding filter cartridge 38 therein.

The bowl 36 has, at one end, an open mouth 154 for allowing the filtercartridge 38 to be selectively inserted and removed from the bowl 36. Atan end opposite of the open mouth 154 is a closed end 156 defining anopening 158. In preferred embodiments, the opening 158 cooperates toform part of a drainage aperture arrangement 160.

The closed end 156 in the embodiment shown generally has a flat base 162to allow the bowl 36 to be stood on a horizontal surface, such as a shopbench, without tipping. In this embodiment, the end 156 further includesflat side surfaces 164 (FIG. 1) to be used in conjunction with a tool,such as a wrench.

Adjacent to the mouth 154 is mating structure 156, illustrated herein asthreads 168. The threads 168 are selectively engageable with the threads134 of the filter head 132 to allow for attachment and removal of thebowl 36 with the filter head 32. Of course, the threads 168 could alsobe on an exterior wall with threads 134 on the head 132 on an interiorwall. Also viewable in FIG. 8 is a seal member 170 held on an innerradial surface of the surrounding wall 150 within a groove 172. The sealmember 170 forms seal 148 (FIG. 11) with the filter head 32.

The closed end 156 of the bowl 36, in the embodiment shown, includes adisk-holding groove 174. The disk-holding groove 174 is defined by afloor 176 on an inner surface of the wall 150 at the closed end 156. Thedisk-holding groove 174 supports the disk 90 extending axially from thefloor 176 of the inside surface of the wall 150 of the bowl 36.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the disk 90 includes acartridge-receiving tray 180 constructed and arranged to receive atleast a portion of the filter cartridge 38. In preferred embodiments,the cartridge receiving tray 180 receives the second axially-extendingneck 82 of the filter cartridge 38 and forms seal 88 (FIG. 12)therewith. In FIG. 8, the cartridge receiving tray 180 includes an outerring 182, an inner ring 184, and a base 186 therebetween. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 12, the seal 88 is formed between and againstneck 82 and an inner radial surface 188 of the outer ring 182.

Extending axially below the cartridge-receiving tray 180 is a base ring190, which is held by and fixed within the disk-holding groove 174. Ascan be seen in FIGS. 8 and 12, the base ring 190 holds a remainingportion of the disk 90 from the floor 176 to allow for a flow of liquidin the volume 192 (FIG. 12) between the base 186 and the floor 176. Thebase ring 190 includes through-holes 194 (FIG. 12) to allow for the flowof fluid to flow from volume 192 through the base ring 190, and in adirection toward the drainage aperture arrangement 160.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the disk 90 further includes a secondinner ring 196. The second inner ring 196 is spaced radially inwardly ofthe inner ring 184. The space located between the inner ring 184 and thesecond inner ring 196 accommodates a porous inner filter support 200,described further below. In the embodiment shown, the disk 90 furtherincludes a third inner ring 202 located radially inwardly of the secondinner ring 196. The third inner ring 202 has an inner radial surfacethat provides a seal surface for forming a seal 204 between a drainvalve housing 206 (FIGS. 13 and 15) and the disk 90.

E. Porous Inner Filter Support 200

One embodiment of a porous inner filter support 200 is illustrated invarious FIGS. including, for example, FIGS. 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, and 18.Portions of the filter support 200 can be seen in several of the otherfigures. The porous inner filter support 200 is oriented within the openfilter interior 46 (FIG. 6) of the filter cartridge 38. Further, in theembodiment shown, the porous inner filter support 200 is oriented withinthe open interior volume 152 of the bowl 36. In the specific embodimentillustrated, the inner filter support 200 is secured to the filter bowl36 by being secured to the disk 90 between inner ring 184 and secondinner ring 196. In other embodiments, the support 200 can be secureddirectly to the bowl 36 at, for example, the floor 176 of the bowl 36.Filter support 200 can be permanently secured to the disk 90 through avariety of techniques including adhesive, press-fit, staking, welding;or, the support 200 and the bowl 36 can be the same integral piece. Inanother embodiment, the disk 90 and the filter support 200 can be thesame integral piece.

In the embodiment illustrated, the inner filter support 200 includes aporous wall 208. The porous wall 208 defines a plurality of flowpassages 210 (FIGS. 8, 9 and 18) therethrough. In use, the filtersupport 200 functions to help support the filter media 44 by lining theopen filter interior 46 of the media 44, and the flow passages 210 allowfor the filtered liquid to flow into a filtered liquid volume 212 (FIGS.3 and 4) with in the porous wall 208.

In preferred embodiments, the porous wall 208 of the filter support 200includes a plurality of guide rails 216 projecting radially inwardly ina direction toward an inside volume of the filter support 200. In thecross section of FIGS. 8 and 9, a cross-section of the guide rails 216is depicted, so that only half of the guide rail 216 is viewable. InFIGS. 19-22, the upper ends of the guide rails 216 can be seen. In FIGS.19-22, the upper ends of the guide rails 216 function as projections 218extending from a remaining portion of the porous wall 208; theprojections 218 cooperate with the lock-out mechanism, explained below.Between the guide rails 216, a slide channel 220 (FIG. 8) is formed,which helps to slidably hold a portion (e.g., fins 336) of a core piece222, described further below. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the guide rails216 extend at least a partial length along the wall 208 of the filtersupport 200. In FIG. 8, the guide rails 216 are shown extending from afree end 224 of the filter support 200 about half way down the fulllength of the filter support 200.

In the embodiment shown, the porous inner filter support 200 furtherincludes an inwardly extending shoulder or support 226. The inwardlyextending support 226 extends radially inwardly from the wall 208 andincludes an upper surface 228 and a lower surface 230. The support 226defines a throat or opening 232, as it extends circumferentially alongand within the wall 208 of the filter support 200. The opening 232within the inwardly extending support 226 allows for a portion of thecore piece 222 to slide therewithin and also cooperates with a portion(e.g., the head 302) of the core piece 222 to help hold the core piece222 in place. It also helps to cooperate with the auto-drain mechanism,which is described in Section L below.

F. Drain Valve Assembly

The filter system 30 depicted also has a drain-valve assembly 236 (FIG.13) to allow liquid in the complete assembly to automatically be drainedduring the servicing of the system 30. The drain-valve assembly 236 canbe implemented independently of other features in the exampleembodiment. For example, the drain valve assembly 236 can be implementedindependently of the lock-out mechanism and cartridge retentionmechanism 100.

Attention is directed to FIGS. 12 and 13. In FIGS. 12 and 13, the filtercartridge 38 is operably positioned in the filter bowl 36, and the bowl36 is fully-threaded on the filter head 32. In this condition, thedrain-valve assembly 236 is in a sealed position 238. In the sealedposition 238, there is in place a first plug seal 240 and a second plugseal 242.

The drain-valve assembly 236 includes a plug 244. The plug 244 ismovably oriented between the sealed position 238 (FIGS. 11 and 12) and adrainage position 246 (FIGS. 9 and 10, for example). The sealed position238 includes the plug 244 blocking fluid flow between the interiorvolume 152 of the bowl 36 and the drainage aperture arrangement 160. Thedrainage position 246 includes the plug 244 being oriented relative tothe bowl 36 to permit flow from the interior volume 152 of the bowl 36through the drainage aperture arrangement 160.

FIGS. 13-15 show one example embodiment of drain valve assembly 236.FIG. 13 shows an exploded, perspective view of the drain-valve assembly236, while FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the assembly 236 after it hasbeen assembled. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional perspective view of thedrain valve assembly 236, after it has been assembled.

While a variety of embodiments can be used, in the embodiment picturedin FIGS. 13-15, the drain valve assembly 236 includes a valve housing248. The valve housing 248 includes a generally tubular wall 250defining an opening 252. The opening 252 receives the plug 244, suchthat the plug 244 is axially moveable therewithin. The wall 250 definesa pair of grooves 254 extending longitudinally, and constructed andarranged to receive corresponding ribs 256 on the plug 244. The wall 250further includes an elongated slot 258 including a transverse portion260. The elongated slot 258 receives ribs 262 emanating from the plug244. The ribs 262 have hooks or extensions 264 that help to keep theplug 244 from popping out of the valve housing 248 through opening 252.

Still in reference to FIGS. 13-15, the valve housing 248 depictedfurther includes a base 266. The base 266 is held within the opening 158(FIG. 8) of the bowl 36, and when properly oriented therein forms a partof the flat base 162 of the bowl 36. Extending vertically from the base266 is a wall 268 (FIG. 15). The wall 268, in the embodiment shown, isthreaded such that it can be removably mounted within the opening 158 ofthe bowl 36. Along the wall 268 is a valve seal member 270. The sealmember 270 forms a second valve seal 272 (FIG. 8) with the bowl 36. Thesecond valve seal 272 prevents fluid from flowing from the bowl 36through the opening 158.

The first valve seal 204 was described above. The first valve seal 204is formed by seal member 274 which is held within a groove 276 of thevalve housing 248. The seal member 274 forms first valve seal 204 (FIG.8) with the disk 90 connected to the bowl 36 to prevent unfiltered fluidfrom bypassing the filter media 44 and flowing into the open filter 46.

Still in reference to FIG. 15, in the valve housing 248 depicted,extending from the wall 268 is an upper base 278. The upper base 278, inthe embodiment shown, is generally parallel to the base 266, but isradially spaced and vertically spaced therefrom. Extending downwardlyfrom the upper base 278 is an inner wall 280. The inner wall 280 formsthe drain port 282 (FIG. 8) of the drainage aperture arrangement 160.

Extending upwardly from the upper base 278 is a slotted wall 284 (FIG.13). The slotted wall 284 has apertures 286 to allow liquid to flowthrough the wall 284.

Still in reference to FIGS. 13-15, a spring 288 is operably orientedaround the valve housing wall 250 and pushes against a portion of theplug 244. Specifically, the spring 288 is located between an outwardlyextending rib 290 extending outwardly from the wall 250 of the valvehousing 248. The spring 288 engages rib 290 and against flange 292 ofthe plug 244. The spring 288 biases the plug 244 to be in the positionin FIG. 15, which corresponds to drainage position 246. The plug 244 ismoveable within the opening 252 of the valve housing 248 in a directiontoward the sealed position 238 by compression of the spring 288.

The drain valve assembly 236 further includes a first plug seal member294 secured to the plug 244 to form first plug seal 240 (FIG. 12). Thefirst plug seal 240 prevents unfiltered fluid from bypassing the filtermedia 44 and then flowing into the open filter interior 246, when theplug 244 is in the sealed position 238 (FIG. 12). The drain valveassembly 236 further includes a second plug seal member 296 secured tothe plug 244 to form the second plug seal 242 (FIG. 12) with the innerwall 280 of the valve housing 248. The second plug seal 242 preventsliquid from flowing from the bowl 36 through the drain port 282 of thedrainage aperture arrangement 160.

Still in reference to FIGS. 13-15, in the embodiment shown, the plug 244includes a receiver 298, which is circumscribed by the flange 292. Thereceiver 298 is at an end of the plug 244 that is opposite from asealing end 300 (FIG. 15) of the plug 244. The receiver 298 is generallybowl-shaped and is constructed and arranged to engage and receive aportion (head 302) of the core piece 222, described further below.

Details of the core piece 222 are described further below. One portionof the core piece 222 includes a core piece head 302 (FIGS. 8, 11, and12). The head 302 engages the plug 244 when the drain valve assembly 236is in its sealed position 238. When the head 302 moves away from theplug 244, this allows the plug 244 to move axially within the interiorof the filter support 200, with the spring 288, to allow the plug 244 tomove to the drainage position 246.

Further details on operation of the auto drain valve assembly 236 aredescribed further below in Section L.

G. Basket 304

Attention is directed to FIG. 24. A basket 304 is illustrated inperspective view. The basket 304 can be seen in various other views, andthe FIG. 24 perspective view is an example implementation. The basket304 is part of the lock-out mechanism, and its function will be morefully-described below in Section K.

In the embodiment illustrated, the basket 304 includes at least onecantilevered leg 306 extending from a basket base 308. The leg 306extends axially in a direction toward the closed end 156 of the bowl 36.In preferred embodiments, the basket 34 includes a plurality of legs306, and in the example embodiment shown, there are four legs 306,evenly and circumferentially spaced relative to each other.

The embodiment of the basket 304 depicted further includes a groovedwall 310. The groove wall 310 forms, generally, a cylinder and extendsaxially in a direction toward the open mouth 154 of the bowl 36. Ingeneral, the grooved wall 310 is constructed and arranged to engage aportion of the filter cartridge 38 such that the engagement with thefilter cartridge 38 will rotate the basket 304 from a first lockedposition to an unlocked position. The first locked position is aposition in which the at least one leg 306 axially abuts the projection218 on the filter support 200 (FIG. 19). The unlocked position is aposition in which the at least one leg 306 is free of the axial abutmentwith the projection 218 and permits the basket 304 to move in adirection toward the end 156 of the bowl 36 (FIG. 21).

In preferred embodiments, the basket 304 is rotationally moveable fromthe first locked position (FIG. 19) to a second locked position (FIG.20). In the second locked position (FIG. 20), the at least one leg 306is partially free of the abutment against the at least one projection218 on the filter support 200, but there is still axial interferencetherebetween.

The grooved wall 310 has at least a first groove 312 with a first slidesurface 314, and a second groove 316 with a second slide surface 318. Inthe preferred embodiment, the grooved wall 310 includes a pair of firstgrooves 312, each having a first slide surface 314, and a pair of secondgrooves 316, each having a second slide surface 318. As can be seen inFIG. 24, the pair of first grooves 312 are located about 180 degreesrelative to each other while the pair of second grooves 316 are locatedabout 180 degrees relative to each other.

The first slide surface 314 of the first groove 312 is constructed andarranged to engage the filter cartridge 38 and rotate the basket 304from the first locked position to the second locked position. Thisrotation of the basket 304 also exposes the second slide surface 318 ofthe second groove 316 to engagement with the filter cartridge 38. Anexample can be seen by comparing FIGS. 19 and 20. In FIG. 19, the basket304 is in the first locked position. The first slide surface 314 isexposed to engagement with the filter cartridge 38. In particular, andas explained further below in Section K, the first slide surface 314engages the first protrusion 121 of the filter cartridge 38. The thirdprotrusion 123 will engage the other first slide surface 314, inpreferred embodiments. The first protrusion 121 engages the first slidesurface 314, which rotates the basket 304 clockwise when viewed fromabove. The basket 304 is rotated to the second locked position, depictedin FIG. 20. The second locked position then exposes the second slidesurface 318. The second slide surface 318, in preferred embodiments, hasthe second protrusion 122 engage against it, which causes the basket 304to further rotate clockwise, when viewed above, to the unlocked positionas shown in FIG. 21. In preferred embodiments, the fourth protrusion 124will engage the other second slide surface 318.

In FIG. 24, in the embodiment shown, the basket 304 further includes ahollow column circumscribed by the grooved wall 310. In use, asexplained further below, the column 320 receives a post 322, which ispart of the core piece 222, explained in Section H below. The basket 304further includes webs or flanges 324 extending between the column 320and the grooved wall 310.

Further operation of the basket 304 is described below in connectionwith the lock-out mechanism, Section K.

H. Core Piece 222 and Spring

Several FIGS. show an embodiment of the core piece 222. The core piece222 is operably-oriented within the interior of the wall 208 of thefilter support 200, and within the filtered liquid volume 212.

As mentioned above, in the embodiment shown, the core piece 222 includespost 322. At one free end of the post 322, a button 326 is defined.Adjacent to the button 326 is a reduced dimension 328 in the form of aneck 330. The post 322 is received by the column 320 of the basket 304.The retention mechanism 100 engages the post 322 at the button 326.Specifically, the gripper arrangement 104 holds the post 322 at thebutton 326 by having fingers 108, 109 engage the neck 330 of the post322. Further operational details of the retention arrangement 100 arediscussed below in Section M.

As mentioned previously, the post 322 further includes, at an endopposite of the button 326, the head 302. In the embodiment shown, thehead 302 is mushroom-shaped and constructed and arranged to engage theinwardly extending shoulder or support 226 of the filter support 200.

The head 302 of the core piece 222 is movably oriented between anengaged position and a released position. The engaged position includesthe head 302 being oriented against the receiver 298 of the plug 244 topush the plug 244 into the sealed position 238. The released positionincludes the head 302 being spaced away from the receiver 298 of theplug 244 to allow the plug 244 to move to the drainage position 246.When the head 302 is in the released position, a radial flange 332 (FIG.10) on the head 302 is engaged against lower surface 230 of the inwardlyextending support 226. When the head 302 is in its engaged position(FIG. 12), the head 302 is engaged against the plug 244 and receivedwithin the receiver 298.

In the embodiment shown, the core piece 222 further includes a finarrangement 334. The fin arrangement 334 includes a plurality of fins336 projecting radially from a center longitudinal axis of the post 322.In preferred embodiments, the fins 336 slide within respective channels220 defined by guide rails 216. The fins 336, in cooperation with thechannels 220 within the guide rails 216, ensure that the core piece 222will maintain operable orientation and sliding orientation within theporous inner filter support 200. A core piece spring 338 is operablyoriented between the fin arrangement 334 and the upper surface 228 ofthe support 226 (FIG. 10). The spring 338 will exert a pushing force onthe core piece 222 in a direction axially upwardly relative to theporous inner filter support 200 and in a direction toward the open mouth154 of the bowl 36.

In reference now to FIGS. 17-22, the core piece 222 further includes abasket holder 340. The basket holder 340 supports the basket 304 andallows the basket 304 to move between its first locked position (FIG.19), to its second locked position (FIG. 20), and to its unlockedposition (FIG. 21). In the embodiment shown, the basket holder 340includes an apertured frame 342. The apertured frame 342 definesleg-receiving apertures 344 (FIG. 22), such that the legs 306 of thebasket 306 can penetrate the basket holder 340 by having legs 306 passthrough the leg-receiving apertures 344. The basket holder frame 342includes a slotted wall 346 circumscribing the post 322 and alsoincludes spokes 348 (FIG. 22) joining the slotted wall 346 to the post322. Adjacent spokes 348 define the leg-receiving apertures 344.

In reference to FIG. 22, the assembly includes a spring 350 orientedaround the post 322 and operably oriented between the webs or flanges324 of the basket 304 to bias the basket 304 rotationally within thebasket holder 340 and into the locked position (FIG. 19).

The slotted wall 346 includes a plurality of slots 352. The slots 352are open at one end and closed at an opposite end; that is, the slots352 are open at the end rim 354 of the slotted wall 346 and have closedends 356 adjacent to a bottom portion of the slotted wall 346. The slots352 function as a slide channel 358 for cooperating structure on thefilter cartridge 38.

In particular, the first slot 360 forms slide channel 358 for the firstprotrusion 121 or the third protrusion 123, after the first protrusion121 or third protrusion 123 engages the first slide surface 314 of thebasket 304, rotating the basket 304 from the first locked position. Thisrotation of the basket 304 then aligns the first slot 360 with the firstgroove 312 of the basket 304.

The second slot 362 will be put in alignment with the second groove 316,to allow either the second protrusion 122 or the fourth protrusion 124slide therewithin slide channel 358 after the basket 304 has beenrotated from the second locked position to the unlocked position (FIG.21).

I. Bypass Filter Cartridge FIG. 32

FIG. 32 shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a bypassfilter cartridge 390. The bypass filter cartridge 390 is usable with abowl 391 (FIG. 1) in the system 30. The bypass filter cartridge 390includes a region of filter media 392 attached between a first endcap393 and a second endcap 394. The second endcap 394 has an axiallyextending neck 395 holding a seal member 396.

The first endcap 393 is preferably constructed and arranged in a mannerthat will prevent it from operably fitting within the bowl 36 for thefull flow filter assembly 34. Switching the bypass filter cartridge 390and the full-flow filter cartridge 38 could have catastrophic results.Therefore, structure is built in to prevent this mix-up. One structureis the lock-out mechanism, described herein and further below. Anothersuch mechanism is the structure of the first endcap 393. The firstendcap 393 includes an upstanding projection 397 that holds seal member398.

The height of the projection 397 is such that it will not be allowed tooperably-engage the filter head 32 in the location of the full-flowfilter assemblies 34.

In the bypass filter cartridge 390, it can optionally include acartridge retention mechanism 399, analogous to the retention mechanism100 described above. Further, it may also include a protrusionarrangement 400 analogous to the protrusion arrangement 118, describedabove.

J. Adaptor Arrangements, FIGS. 33-38

Attention is directed to FIGS. 33-38, which illustrate variousembodiments of an adaptor arrangement 402. FIG. 33 illustrates onemethod for using, including installing an adaptor arrangement 402.

A first embodiment of an adaptor arrangement 402 is shown in FIGS. 33and 34 as adaptor ring 404. A second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 35 and36 as 404′, and a third embodiment is shown in FIGS. 37 and 38 as 404″.Each of the adaptor rings 404, 404′, and 404″ have common features, andwill utilize common reference numerals. Differences will be indicated bydifferent reference numerals.

The adaptor ring 404, 404′, 404″ includes a circular band 406 definingan open aperture 408. In the embodiment shown, the band 406 is generallycircular, defining a generally circular open aperture 408. The band 406has an outer radial surface 410 and an opposite inside radial surface412. The inside radial surface 412 defines an aperture wall 414, becauseit lines the open aperture 408.

A protrusion arrangement 416 extends from the band 406. Preferably, theprotrusion arrangement 416 includes at least first and secondprotrusions 421, 422 extending from the aperture wall 414 and into theopen aperture 408. The first protrusion 421 is spaced from the secondprotrusion 422 in a vertical direction along the aperture wall 414. Thefirst protrusion 421 is also circumferentially spaced from the secondprotrusion 422 along the aperture wall 414.

Preferably, the first protrusion 421 extends into the open aperture 408no greater than 40% than the inner diameter of the open aperture 408.Similarly, it is preferred that the second protrusion 422 extends intothe open aperture 408 no greater than 40% of the inner diameter of theopen aperture 408. Preferably, the vertical distance between the firstprotrusion 421 and the second protrusion 422 is 2-30% of the innerdiameter of the open aperture 408.

The first protrusion 421 and the second protrusion 422 arecircumferentially spaced within 50 degrees of each other. It is alsopossible to arrange the first protrusion 421 and the second protrusion422 such that they are located greater than 45 degrees relative to eachother.

In the embodiment shown, the protrusion arrangement 416 further includesa third protrusion 423 extending from the aperture wall 414 and into theopen aperture 408. The third protrusion 423 is circumferentially spacedfrom the first protrusion 421 and the second protrusion 422. The thirdprotrusion 423 is also vertically spaced from only one of either thefirst protrusion 421 or the second protrusion 422.

In the illustrated embodiments, there is also at least a fourthprotrusion 424 extending from the aperture wall 414 and into the openaperture 408. The fourth protrusion 424 is circumferentially spaced fromthe first protrusion 421, the second protrusion 422, and the thirdprotrusion 423. The fourth protrusion 424 is also vertically spaced fromonly two of the first protrusion 421, the second protrusion 422, or thethird protrusion 423; that is, the fourth protrusion 424 is verticallyeven with only two of the first protrusion 421, second protrusion 422,and third protrusion 423.

In the embodiments shown, two of the first protrusion 421, secondprotrusion 422, third protrusion 423, and fourth protrusion 424 arecircumferentially-spaced within 15 degrees of each other, while aremaining two are circumferentially-spaced within 15 degrees of eachother.

The embodiment of adaptor ring 404′ illustrated in FIGS. 35 and 36differs from the embodiment of adaptor ring 402 in FIGS. 33 and 34, inthat the band 406 has a longer vertical wall 430. This longer verticalwall 430 can be useful in certain arrangements.

The embodiment of the adaptor ring 404″ of FIGS. 37 and 38 furtherincludes cartridge retention mechanism 440. The retention mechanism 440is analogous to the retention mechanism 100 and includes a gripperarrangement 442 including fingers 443, 444. Further, the retentionmechanism 440 includes a release arrangement 446, including opposingtabs 447, 448.

FIG. 33 demonstrates a technique for using the adaptor arrangements 402in order to unlock the core piece 222 and the inner filter support 200.Adaptor arrangements 402 are useful in that it is sometimes helpful tobe able to use a filter cartridge that does not have the protrusionarrangement 118 on the endcap 41. For example, in the laboratory and outin the field, it may be desirable to test filter cartridges that havedifferent filtration performance but do not have the protrusionarrangement 118. In such situations, the adaptor arrangements 402 areuseful.

In FIG. 33, the arrow 450 shows where the adaptor ring 404 is mountedrelative to the filter support 200. The adaptor ring 404 is generallymounted over the filter support 200, to engage the basket 304. Thefilter cartridge 452 may then be mounted thereon. The adaptor ring 404is generally located between the filter cartridge 452 and the filtersupport 200. In the embodiment shown, the adaptor ring 404 is thenlocated within the aperture of the first endcap 454 of the cartridge452.

In use, the adaptor ring 404 is oriented into the filter bowl 36, andthe first protrusion 421 is pushed against the basket 304 to then allowthe second protrusion 422 to engage the basket 304. Engagement of thesecond protrusion 422 against basket 304 then rotates the basket 304relative to the projections 218 (FIG. 19) on the filter support 200.This frees the legs 306 of the basket 304 relative to the projections218. When the legs 306 are free of interference with the projections218, the core piece 222 may move axially relative to the inner filtersupport 200.

K. Methods of Operation of the Lock-Out Mechanism

As mentioned above, it may be desirable to have in the filter system 30a mechanism that ensures that the filter system 30 cannot be operatedunless the filter cartridge 38 has been operably assembled within thefilter bowl 36. In addition, in the particular system 30 depicted, thereis more than one type of filter assembly and it would be disastrous if auser were to mix up filter cartridges. A lock-out mechanism will achieveboth objectives.

Reference is first made to FIG. 39 which depicts filter bowl 36, innerfilter support 200, core piece 222, and filter head 32. In FIG. 39, thefilter cartridge 38 is not within the filter bowl 36. During servicing,for example, the bowl 36 would not have the filter cartridge 38installed therewithin. FIG. 8 also depicts the bowl 36 without thefilter cartridge 38 installed within.

In FIGS. 8, 18, 19, and 39, the basket 304 is fitted around the post322, and the basket 304 is oriented in its locked position by the biasof spring 350. In particular, the spring 350 is oriented such that itbiases the basket 304 into the locked position by rotational forceexerted between the flanges 324 and the resistance to that force becauseof engagement between the legs 306 and the leg-receiving apertures 344(FIG. 22). In FIG. 19, when the basket 304 is in its locked position,each of the legs 306 has its free end 307 in engagement with theprojections 218 formed by the ends of the guide rails 216.

In this position, without filter cartridge 38 installed in the filterbowl 36, the upper rim 311 of the basket 304 and the upper rim 354 ofthe basket holder 340 will contact or engage against ribs 146 of theadaptor 64. See FIG. 39. Because the legs 306 are resting on top of theprojections 218 (in this embodiment, shown as an end of the guide rails216), the core piece 222 and the basket 304 cannot move axiallydownwardly in a direction toward the closed end 156 of the bowl 36. Theentire inner assembly 364 is in an extended and rigidly fixed position.As can be seen in FIG. 39, in this rigidly fixed position, the filterhead 32 cannot operably connect with the bowl 36 by connection betweenthe threads 134 on the filter head 32 and the threads 168 on the bowl36.

During servicing, when a new filter cartridge 38 has been provided, thefilter cartridge 38 is oriented in the bowl 36 by placing it through theopen mouth 154. When the filter cartridge 38 is properly and operablypositioned in the filter bowl 36, the first protrusion 121 comes incontact or engages the ramped first slide surface 314 of the basket 304.See FIGS. 19, 28, 29, and 30. In embodiments that have more than twoprotrusions, one possibility is that both the first protrusion 121 andthe third protrusion 123 will engage a corresponding first slide surface314 on the basket 304. As the first protrusion 121 engages this firstslide surface 314, it causes the basket 304 to rotate against the spring350. In preferred embodiments, the rotation will be less than 45degrees, for example, 5-20 degrees. This rotates the basket 304 from thefirst locked position (FIGS. 19 and 30) to the second unlocked position(FIG. 20). The first groove 312 in the basket 304 become aligned withthe first slot 360 of the basket holder 340, which will eventually allowthe first protrusion 121 to slide down.

When the basket 304 is rotated to the second locked position (FIG. 20),this exposes the second slide surface 318. The second protrusion 122 isoriented such that it will contact or engage the second slide surface318. The contact with the second slide surface 318 can be made through aprotrusion located in the location of the fourth protrusion 124, aswell. In embodiments that have protrusions at both locations of thesecond protrusion 122 and fourth protrusion 124, then both the secondprotrusion 122 and the fourth protrusion 124 will contact thecorresponding second slide surface 318. The initial contact between thesecond protrusion 122 and the second slide surface 318 causes the basket304 to rotate against the spring 350 from its second locked position toits unlocked position (FIG. 21). FIGS. 23, 25, and 27 illustrateengagement of the second protrusion 122 against the second slide surface318. The rotation of the basket 304 from the second locked position(FIG. 20) to the unlocked position (FIG. 21) is preferably less than 45degrees, for example, 5-20 degrees. Rotation to the unlocked positionaligns second groove 316 and second slot 362, which will eventuallyallow axial sliding of the second protrusion 122 therein downwardly.

As the basket 304 moves to the unlocked position, the legs 306 alsorotate, moving away from engagement against the projections 218 createdby the end of the guide rails 216. When the legs 306 are completelyclear of the projections 218, any additional movement of the filtercartridge 38 in a downwardly axial direction toward the closed end 156will cause the basket 304 and the core piece 222 to also move in thatdirection against the core piece spring 338. The core piece spring 338normally biases the basket 304 and the core piece 222 in the extendedposition of FIGS. 8 and 39.

When the filter assembly 34 is mounted onto the filter head 32, theadaptor 64 will exert force on the first end cap 41 of the filtercartridge 38, moving the filter cartridge 38 downwardly relative to thebowl 36 and the inner filter support. Moving the filter cartridge 38downwardly toward the closed end 156 of the bowl 36 also movesdownwardly the core piece 222. The filter head 32 will then be able tomatably engage the threads 168 on the bowl 36 for secure attachment, asshown in FIG. 11.

It should be appreciated that the lock-out mechanism as characterizedabove can be utilized in a method of installing a filter cartridge intoa filter bowl such as a filter cartridge 38 into filter bowl 36. In sucha method, filter cartridge 36 is oriented into filter bowl 36. Thefilter cartridge 36 will have a tubular construction of filter media,such as media 44. The filter bowl 36 will have a porous inner filtersupport 200 mounted therein and a core piece 222 within the inner filtersupport 200. The core piece 200 will be holding a basket 304. The methodfurther includes while orienting, pushing the filter cartridge 38against the basket 304 to disengage the core piece 222 and the innerfilter support 200. For example, this can be implemented by pushing aprotrusion arrangement 118 against the basket 304. In particular, firstprotrusion 121 can be pushed against the first slide surface 304 torotate the basket 304 from the first locked position to the secondlocked position. Then, the second protrusion 122 will be oriented to bein a position to engage the second slide surface 318 and cause furtherrotation of the basket 304 from the second locked position to theunlocked position. The unlocked position will cause the legs 306 to movefrom engagement against projections 218 to a position in which they arefree of interference with the projections 218. This disengages theinterference between the core piece 222 and the filter support 200.Next, after disengaging, the method includes axially moving both thefilter cartridge 38 and the core piece 222 relative to the inner filtersupport 200.

This method of installing can be incorporated into a method forservicing, in which, first, the bowl 36 is removed from the filter head32. Next, the bowl filter cartridge 38 is removed from the bowl 36. Thismethod can employ the method of using the retention mechanism 100, whichis described further below (Section M). During services, the bowl can bedrained, which is also described in Section L.

Next, a new filter cartridge 38 is provided. The method of installingthe filter cartridge, as described above, is then utilized. In preferredsuch methods, after the cartridge 38 unlocks the engagement between thebasket 304 and inner filter support 200, and the cartridge 38 with thebasket 304 and core piece 222 is allowed to move axially downwardly.

L. Drain Valve Mechanism

The filter system 30 depicted also has a drain valve mechanism to allowliquid in the complete assembly to automatically be drained during theservicing of the system 30. The drain valve mechanism can be implementedindependently of other features in the example embodiment.

When the filter cartridge 38 is operably positioned in the filter bowl36 with the bowl 36 being fully-threaded on the filter head 32 as shownin FIG. 11, the plug 244 is in the closed and sealed position. In thisposition, the first plug seal 240 and the second plug seal 242 are inplace (FIG. 12).

The first plug seal 240 seals off liquid located on the clean side inthe filtered liquid volume 212 (FIG. 12), from allowing unfilteredliquid in the unfiltered liquid volume 214 from flowing through holes194 (FIG. 12). The second plug seal 242 seals off liquid from theunfiltered liquid volume 214 from the drain port 282 that is directed tothe outside environment. Also, the seal 204 (FIG. 10) prevents liquidfrom the unfiltered liquid volume 214 to be able to reach the filteredliquid volume 212.

With the filter cartridge 38 operably positioned in the bowl 36 and thehead 32 fully engaged and connected to the bowl 36, the adaptor 64presses against the first endcap 41, which pushes the cartridge 38 andthe core piece 222 holding the basket 304 and legs 306 downward axiallyrelative to the porous inner filter support 200. As the core piece 222moves in a direction toward the closed end 156 of the bowl 36, the head302 of the core piece 222 is moved away from the inwardly extendingsupport 226 and engages the receiver 298 of the plug 244. This axialforce presses the plug 244 against the valve spring 288 to move the pluginto the sealed position of FIG. 12.

When it is time to service the filter cartridge 38, because of wear orbecause of occlusion, the filter assembly 34 will be rotated about itscentral axis relative to the filter head 32. As this occurs, the filterassembly 34 moves downwardly along the central axis due to theunthreading action between the bowl 36 and the filter head 32. Whilethis downward action is occurring, the core spring 338 pushes againstfins 336 on the core piece 222. This moves the cartridge 38 holding thecore piece 222 axially upwardly relative to the bowl 36. The axialmotion upwardly of the core piece 222 stops when the head 302 is stoppedby engagement with the lower surface 230 of the inwardly extendingsupport 226. When the head 302 is not acting against the plug 244, itallows the plug 244 to move with the valve spring 288 away from drainport 282 to the position of FIG. 10. This allows liquid to drain fromboth the unfiltered liquid volume 214, shown by drain path arrow 368, aswell as drain from the filtered liquid volume 212 shown by drain patharrow 370 through the drain port 282 into the outside environment whereit can be captured by some kind of container for proper disposal. Thisdrainage can occur while the assembly 34 remains attached to the filterbowl 36.

It should be appreciated that with the described drainage system, amethod for draining liquid from the filter assembly 34 can be employed.One such method would include at least partially unscrewing the bowl 36containing the filter cartridge 38 from the filter head 32 to permit thespring 338 to move the plug 244 from the sealed position to a drainageposition. The bowl 36 has an interior volume 152 and drainage aperturearrangement 160. The sealed position includes the plug 244 blockingfluid flow between the interior volume 152 of the bowl 36 and the fluidoutlet port 282 in the drainage arrangement 160 and by blocking fluidflow between an upstream side of the filter cartridge 38 and adownstream side of the filter cartridge 38. The upstream side of thefilter cartridge 38 corresponds to the unfiltered liquid volume 214. Thedownstream side of the filter cartridge 38 corresponds to the filteredliquid volume 212. The drainage position includes the plug 244 beingoriented to permit fluid flow between the interior volume 152 of thebowl 36 and fluid outlet port 282 of the bowl 36. The fluid outlet port282 of the bowl is part of the drainage aperture arrangement 160, inwhich in the embodiment shown, holds the valve housing 248 having drainport 282 therein. The step of partially unscrewing the bowl 36 includespermitting core piece spring 338 to move the core piece 222 having head302 axially out of engagement with the plug 244, permitting valve spring248 to move the plug 244 from the sealed position to the drainageposition.

When the assembly 34 is mounted onto the filter head 32, engagementbetween a portion of the filter head (such as adaptor 64) and thecartridge (such as end cap 41), pushes the filter cartridge 38 andstructure connected to it, axially downwardly against the core piecespring 338 in a direction toward the closed end 156 of the bowl 36. Thestructure connected to the cartridge 38 will include the core piece 222,having head 302. The core piece 222 moves axially relative to the filtersupport 200, and the fins 336 will slide within channels 220 between theguide rails 216. As the core piece 222 moves in a direction toward theclosed end 156, the head 302 moves toward the valve assembly 236.Eventually, the head 302 engages the receiver 298 of the plug 244 andpushes the plug 244 against spring 288 to move the plug 244 into thesealed position 238, in which first plug seal 240 is formed and secondplug seal 242 is formed.

M. Cartridge Retention Mechanism 100

In the preferred embodiment, illustrated, the filter system 30 includescartridge retention mechanism 100 to releasably hold the filtercartridge 38 within the filter bowl 36 during servicing. The cartridgeretention mechanism 100 can be implemented independently of the otherfeatures in the filtration system, including independent of the lock-outmechanism and the drain valve mechanism.

FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 9, and 11 each shows the retention mechanism 100 engagedwith the gripper arrangement 104 connected to the core piece 222,specifically, the neck 330 of the button 326. Specifically, the fingers108, 109 are gripping the neck 330, which causes the filter cartridge 38to remain in the bowl 36, rather than stay connected to the adaptor 64in the filter head 32.

When the filter assembly 34 is removed from the head 32, the filtercartridge 38 remains captured in the bowl 36 by engagement between thefingers 108, 109 of the gripper arrangement 104 and the button 326 ofthe post 322. In order to release the filter cartridge 38 from the bowl36, the release arrangement 106 is actuated. Specifically, the tabs 111,112 are squeezed together in a direction toward each other and towardthe post 322, by using, for example, the thumb and forefinger of theperson providing the servicing. This causes the fingers 108, 109 to moveaway from the neck 330 of the post 322, allowing the fingers 108, 109 toclear the button 326. The thumb and forefinger of the service person ison the tabs 111, 112, and the service person can now pull the filtercartridge 38 clear of the button 326 and remove the filter cartridge 38from the bowl 36.

The retention mechanism 100 can be made from a material flexible enoughto provide deflection of the fingers 108, 109 away from each other whenthe tabs 111, 112 are squeezed. This material may be plastic, althoughit may be other materials as well.

The retention system 100 can be used in a method for servicing thefilter system 30 including removing the filter assembly 34, includingbowl 36 containing filter cartridge 38, from filter head 32. Next,during the step of removing, the method includes retaining the filtercartridge 38 to the bowl 36 by gripping the button 326 with opposingfingers 108, 109, radially extending toward each other. After the stepof retaining, opposing tabs 111, 112 may be gripped and squeezed towardeach other to release the fingers 108, 109 from the button 326 andthereby release the filter cartridge 38 from the bowl 36. The methodfurther includes the step of, while still gripping the opposing tabs111, 112, pulling the filter cartridge 38 from the bowl 36. The step ofgripping includes using opposing fingers 108, 109 that are integral withthe filter cartridge 38. The step of gripping may also include usingopposing fingers 443, 444 that are part of an adaptor 404″ between thefilter cartridge 38 and the core piece 222.

II. The Embodiment of FIGS. 40-57 A. Overview

FIGS. 40-57 illustrate an example embodiment of a filtration systemincluding a filter assembly and filter head. The particular embodimentillustrated depicts one example, but it should be realized, that manyexamples are envisioned and not illustrated in the drawings. FIG. 50shows a filter system 530 including a filter head 532 and a filterassembly 534. In FIG. 40, it can be seen that the filter assembly 534includes a filter bowl 536 and a removable and replaceable filtercartridge 538. FIG. 40 shows this embodiment of the filter system 530 inan exploded, perspective view. In FIG. 41, a perspective view of thefilter assembly 534 including filter bowl 536 and filter cartridge 538is illustrated.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 40-57, the filter assembly 534has features including a lock-out mechanism, an auto-drain valvemechanism, and a cartridge retention mechanism. Each of these featurescan be implemented independently of the other features. The particularembodiment illustrated in the drawings shows all three featuresintegrated into the same filter assembly 534. One skilled in the artwill appreciate that each feature can be implemented independently ofthe others.

In general, the lock-out mechanism ensures that the filter system 530 isnot accidentally operated with equipment without the filter cartridge538 installed therein. Thus, it is a mechanism to protect the equipmentbeing filtered by ensuring that the filter head 532 and filter bowl 536cannot be operably connected unless there is a filter cartridge 538operably oriented within the filter bowl 536. Details on an examplelock-out mechanism are described in Section H of this disclosure.

An auto-drain valve mechanism can be included in the filter system 530and will allow for draining of the filtered liquid from the filter bowl536 during a servicing of the filter system 530. The auto-drain valvemechanism allows for draining of the filter bowl 536 before the filtercartridge 538 is removed from the bowl 536. An example embodiment isdescribed in Section I of this disclosure.

The filter system 530, in this embodiment, also includes a cartridgeretention mechanism. This feature allows for attachment of the filtercartridge to the filter bowl 536 after the filter head 532 has beencompletely removed from the filter assembly 534. Section J describes anexample embodiment of a cartridge retention mechanism.

For purposes of organization, it should be understood that the followingdescription will be of various pieces of the particular, illustratedembodiment. After each of the pieces in this embodiment is described,the way in which the pieces interact to provide the above and otherfunctions is described. Methods of operation, assembly, filtering, andservicing are then described. The following are example embodimentsonly. A variety of implementations can be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure.

B. The Filter Cartridge 538

Reference is made to FIGS. 40, 42, 50, 51, and 52, which illustrate oneembodiment of filter cartridge 538 usable in this arrangement. In theembodiment shown, the filter cartridge 538 includes first and secondopposite endcaps 541, 542 and a tubular construction of filter mediaextending between the first and second endcaps 541, 542. In theembodiment shown, the media 544 is cylindrical in construction anddefines an open filter interior 546. A variety of different types ofmedia can be used and may depend upon the particular liquid that isbeing filtered. In the embodiment shown, the media 544 is pleated media548. The pleated media 548 can include cellulose, synthetic, blends ofsynthetic and cellulose, for example. In general, liquid to be filteredflows through the media 544, which functions to remove particulate orother debris from the liquid before flowing into the open interior 546.In some systems, it will be possible to operate the filter system 530 ina reverse-flow manner, in which the liquid to be filtered flows from theopen filter interior 546, through the media 544, and to a region outsideof the media 544.

The first endcap 541 defines a first open aperture 550, which is influid communication with the open filter interior 546. The first endcap541 further includes a first neck 552 protruding from an outward axialsurface 554. The first neck 552 defines a groove 556 along a radialsurface 558 of the neck 552. Seated within the groove 556 along theradial surface 558 is a first seal member 560. The first seal member 560forms a releasable seal 562 (FIG. 50) with an adaptor 564 (FIGS. 49 and50) when the filter cartridge 538 is operably assembled in the filtersystem 530 with the filter head 532 operably engaged with the filterbowl 536.

The first endcap 541 further includes a rib arrangement 566 (FIG. 43)extending into the first open aperture 550. In the embodiment shown, therib arrangement 566 extends from the first neck 552 into the first openaperture 550. As described below, the rib arrangement 566 (which, theexample embodiment shown, contains at least one rib 568) cooperates, inone embodiment, with the lock-out arrangement. Another function of therib arrangement 566 is to cooperate with the cartridge retentionmechanism. In the embodiment shown, the rib arrangement 566 includes aplurality of ribs 568 extending radially from an inner wall 569 (FIG.42) of the neck 552. In the embodiment shown, each of the ribs 568 isillustrated as a relatively thin projection 570 (FIG. 42) extendingradially into the first open aperture 550 from the inner wall 569 of theneck 552.

In this embodiment of the filter cartridge 538, the cartridge 538further includes a retention mechanism 572 that is spaced both axiallyand radially from the first neck 552. The retention mechanism 572cooperates with other structure to retain the cartridge 538 with thefilter bowl 536 during servicing. The details on this operation isdiscussed later below in Section J of this disclosure.

In the embodiment shown, the retention mechanism 572 is radiallycentered within the first open aperture 550. While a variety ofimplementations are contemplated, in the embodiment shown, the retentionmechanism 572 includes a flexible semi-tubular arrangement 574 (FIG. 42)connected to the rib arrangement 576. By “semi-tubular”, it is meantthat it may be tubular in shape, having a closed perimeter, and theperimeter can form a circle or not form a circle (i.e., the perimetermay be irregular or any other non-circular shape). The flexiblesemi-tubular 574 has a gripper arrangement 576 and a release arrangement578. In general, the gripper arrangement 576 is useful in providing areleasable connection with other structure in the filter bowl 536 toallow for the cartridge 538 to remain retained in the filter bowl 536when servicing the system 530. The release arrangement 578 is useful inproviding a convenient, quick, and easy to use mechanism to release thefilter cartridge 538 from the filter bowl 536, during servicing, andallow the cartridge 538 to be removed from the bowl 536.

As embodied herein, the gripper arrangement 576 includes a pair ofopposing fingers 580, 581 radially extending into the flexiblesemi-tubular 574. As will be explained below, in conjunction with FIGS.56 and 57 and in Section J of this disclosure, the fingers 580, 581engage structure in the filter bowl 536.

As embodied herein, the release arrangement 578 includes a pair ofopposing tabs 582, 583, with each tab being located about 590 degreesrelative to the fingers 580, 581. The tabs 582, 583 are connected to thefingers 580, 581 to form a flexible ring defining a receiving aperture586. The receiving aperture 586 receives structure in the filter bowl536 for retaining the cartridge 538 to the bowl 536.

The tabs 582, 583 are depressible or compressible in a direction towardeach other, and because of the connection of the tabs 582, 583 to thefingers 580, 581 by way of the flexible ring 584, upon squeezing thetabs 582, 583 toward each other, the ring 584 moves the fingers 580, 581away from each other. Moving the fingers 580, 581 away from each otherwill release the filter cartridge 538 from the corresponding structurein the filter bowl 536.

The filter cartridge 538 further includes, in the embodiment shown, acentering arrangement 588 to assist with positioning and centering thefilter cartridge 538 relative to the filter head 532. In the embodimentshown, the centering arrangement 588 includes a plurality of projections590 (FIG. 42) extending radially from an exterior wall 592 of the firstneck 552 and axially from the outward axial surface 554 of the firstendcap 541. In the embodiment shown, selected ones of the projections590 are L-shaped members 594, which assist in holding the filtercartridge in place relative to the adaptor 564 (FIG. 11). As can be seenin FIG. 50, the adaptor 564 is contained between the L-shaped member 594and the first neck 552.

As mentioned above, the filter media 544 extends between and is securedto the first endcap 541 and second endcap 542. As shown in FIG. 43, thefilter media 544 has a first end 596 that is secured to the first endcap541 through a conventional techniques. The media 544 has a second end597 that is secured to the second endcap 542.

In FIG. 43, the second endcap 542 defines a second open aperture 598 incommunication with the open filter interior 546. In the embodimentshown, the second endcap 542 includes a second neck 600 extending froman outward axial surface 602 of the second endcap 542.

A second seal member 604 is oriented on a radial surface 606 of thesecond neck 600. In the embodiment shown, the second seal member 604 isoriented on an inner radial surface 608 of the second neck 600. As canbe seen in FIG. 43, the second seal member 604 is oriented within agroove 610 defined in the inner radial surface 608 of the second neck600. When the filter cartridge 538 is operably assembled in use with thefilter bowl 536, the second seal member 604 forms a seal 612 (FIG. 50)with structure in the filter bowl 536.

C. The Filter Head 532 and Adaptor 564

In FIGS. 40, 48, 50, and 54, a schematic depiction of filter head 532 isshown. The filter head 532, in the embodiment shown, has a conduit 614,typically functioning as an inlet conduit, and a conduit 616, typicallyfunctioning as an outlet conduit. The filter head is connected to otherequipment such that liquid to be filtered flows into the filter head 532through the inlet conduit 614 and then exits the filter head 532 byflowing through the outlet conduit 616. In many typical arrangements,the filter head 532 is constructed of a cast metal part.

The filter head 532 includes mating structure 618 for selectiveengagement with the filter bowl 536. In the embodiment shown, the matingstructure 618 are threads 620. The threads 620 are illustrated as beingalong an outer radial surface of the filter head 532. Of course, thethreads can also be located on an inner radial surface of the filterhead 532.

Lining the outlet conduit 616, the filter head 532 includes matingstructure 622 for engagement with the adaptor 564. In the embodimentshown, the mating structure 622 are threads 623 that connect to externalthreads 624 on the adaptor 564. In this manner, the adaptor 564 can beselectively secured to the filter head 532 through engagement betweenthe threads 623 and 624. Other ways can be used to attach the adaptor564 to the head 532 by, for example, press fit, adhesive, or welding, ormaking the adaptor 564 integral to the head 532.

One embodiment of adaptor 564 is illustrated in perspective view in FIG.49 and in cross-sectional view in FIGS. 48, 50, and 54. In theembodiment shown, the adaptor 564 includes a funnel 626 circumscribing acentral, open aperture 628. Extending from the funnel 626 is acylindrical wall 630. The wall 130 has an end rim 632, which becomespositioned between the first neck 552 and the L-shaped member 594 of thefirst endcap 541. The wall 630 defines an inner radial surface 634,which provides a surface against which seal 562 (FIG. 50) is formedbetween the filter cartridge 538 and the adaptor 564.

Extending from an inner wall of the funnel surface 626 is a plurality ofribs 636. The ribs 636, in this embodiment, are part of the lock-outmechanism in that they interfere with a portion of the filter bowl 536,when the cartridge 538 is not operably oriented within the filter bowl36, and the engagement between the ribs 636 and the structure in thefilter bowl 536 prevents the filter head 532 from threadably engagingthe filter bowl 536. This is described more fully below in Section H ofthis disclosure.

The adaptor 564 cooperates with the filter cartridge 538 to help centerthe cartridge 538 and filter bowl 536 relative to the filter head 532.As can be seen in FIG. 50, the wall 630 of the adaptor 564 becomeslocated between the first neck 552 and the L-shaped member 594 of thefirst endcap 541.

D. The Filter Bowl 36

In reference now to FIGS. 44, 45, 48, 50, and 54, one embodiment of thefilter bowl 536 is illustrated. In the embodiment shown, the filter bowl536 includes a surrounding wall 638 defining an open interior volume 640for receiving and holding filter cartridge 538 therein. The bowl 536has, at one end, an open mouth 642 for allowing the filter cartridge 538to be selectively inserted and removed from the bowl 536. At an endopposite of the open mouth 642 is a closed end 644 defining an opening,which functions as a drainage aperture 646. Circumscribing the closedend 644 is a surrounding rim 648 to allow the bowl 536 to be stood on ahorizontal surface, such as a shop bench, without tipping. In thisembodiment, the rim 648 also has flat surfaces 649 (FIGS. 40 and 41) tobe used in conjunction with a removal tool such as a wrench. In theembodiment shown, centered within the surrounding rim 648 is a tube 650,which axially extends from the closed end 644 and defines the drainageaperture 646. In the embodiment shown, the drainage aperture 646 hasconnection structure, such as threads 652 to allow it to be operablyconnected to a porous inner filter support 654 (FIG. 47), which isdescribed further below. The drainage aperture 646 is in fluidcommunication with the open interior volume 640 of the filter bowl 536.

Adjacent to the open mouth 642 is mating structure 656, illustratedherein as threads 658. The threads 658 are along the inner wall 660 ofthe surrounding wall 638. The threads 658 are selectively engageablewith the threads 620 on the filter head 532. Of course, the threads 658can also be on the exterior wall, when threads 620 on the head 532 areon an interior wall and a seal groove for holding a seal member 662 ison the exterior wall.

In the embodiment shown, along the inner wall 660 is seal member 662 forforming a releasable seal 664 (FIG. 50) between the filter bowl 536 andthe filter head 532.

E. Filter Support 654

Reference is now made to FIGS. 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 52, and 54. Oneembodiment of the porous inner filter support 654 is illustrated. Theporous inner filter support 654 is oriented within the open filterinterior 640 of the filter bowl 536. In particular, in the specificembodiment illustrated, the inner filter support 654 is releasablysecured to the filter bowl 536 through a threaded connection 666 betweenthe threads 652 in the aperture 646 of the bowl 536 and a hollow stem668 that is part of the inner filter support 654. The filter support 654can also be permanently attached to the bowl 536 by adhesive, press fit,staking, welding, or the support 654 and bowl 536 can be the sameintegral piece.

In the particular embodiment shown, the inner filter support 654includes a outer porous wall 670. The outer porous wall 670 defines aplurality of flow passages 672 (FIG. 47) therethrough. In use, theporous inner filter support 154 functions to help support the filtermedia 654 by lining the open filter interior 546 of the media 544, andthe flow passages 672 allow for filtered liquid to flow into a filteredliquid volume 674 (FIG. 50) within the outer porous wall 670.

Attention is directed to FIG. 47, The outer porous wall 670 defines aninterior wall surface 676. Extending from the interior wall surface 676are a plurality of guide rails 678 projecting radially inwardly in adirection toward the filtered liquid volume 674. The guide rails 678, inthe embodiment shown, include two parallel rails 679, 680 with a slidetrack 681 therebetween. The slide track 681 engages portions of a corepiece 682, which is described below in Section G of this disclosure.

Each of the guide rails 678 has an engagement end 684. The engagementends 184 are part of the lock-out mechanism, described in Section H ofthis disclosure.

At the end of the outer porous wall 670 is a base 686. In general, thebase 686 is oriented normal to or perpendicular relative to the porouswall 170. The base 686 includes a first axial surface 688 and anopposite, second axial surface 689. (FIG. 46) Between the first axialsurface 688 and second axial surface 689 is an outer radial surface 690.The radial surface 690 forms an outer periphery sealing surface 692 toform seal 612 (FIG. 50) with the second seal member 604 held by thesecond endcap 542 on the filter cartridge 538. The first axial surface688 forms a stop or engagement surface 694 (FIG. 50) for engagementagainst the second endcap 542 of the filter cartridge 538.

Adjacent to the base 686 is a porous neck 696. When the porous innerfilter support 654 is operably oriented within the filter bowl 536, andwhen the filter cartridge 538 is also operably oriented in the filterbowl 536 (as shown in FIG. 50), the porous neck 696 is in selectivefluid communication with the filtered liquid volume 674 (FIG. 50) and anunfiltered liquid volume 698 (FIG. 50) by way of a port 794 (FIG. 53).The unfiltered liquid volume 698 is the volume within the filter bowl536 that is upstream of the filter media 544. The porous neck 696 isselectively in communication with the filtered liquid volume 674, whenthe drain valve mechanism is in an open position. The drain valvemechanism is described in Section I of this disclosure.

The hollow stem 668, mentioned above, is in fluid communication with theporous neck 696. The stem 668 is removably oriented within the drainageaperture 646 of the bowl 536. The stem 668 defines an outer radialgroove 700 holding a seal member 702 therein. The seal member 702 formsa seal 704 with an inner surface of the tube 650 of the filter bowl 536.The stem 668 is hollow and defines drainage aperture 669, which islocated with aperture 646 of the bowl 536.

The inner filter support 654 further includes an inner wall 706 withinthe outer wall 670 (FIG. 46). The inner wall 706 is solid and extends arelatively short distance from the base 686, specifically, less than 25%of the outer wall 670. The inner wall 706 is circumscribed by the outerwall 670. The inner wall 706 and outer wall 670 define a spring-holdingseat 708 therebetween. The spring-holding seat 708 holds a lower spring710. The lower spring 710 is part of the lock-out mechanism, describedin Section H of this disclosure.

Still in reference to FIG. 46, along the interior wall surface 676 ofthe outer porous wall 670 is an inner sloped shoulder 712. The shoulder712 can help to limit downward motion of the core piece 682 because itwill interfere with the core piece 682 and prevent further downwardtravel of the core piece 682 within the filter support 654.

The outer porous wall 670 further defines a plurality of receiving slots714 therethrough. The receiving slots 714 are oriented to receive aportion of a locking spring 716 during servicing of the filter system530. This is described further below in Section I.

F. Basket 720

Attention is directed to FIGS. 46, 47, 48, and 49. A basket 720 isillustrated. The basket 720 is part of the lock-out mechanism, and itsfunction will be more fully-described below in Section H. A variety ofimplementations are contemplated. In the particular embodimentillustrated, the basket 720 includes a plurality of legs 722cantilevered from a base 724. In the embodiment shown, there are fourlegs 722 evenly and radially-spaced relative to each other. The legs 722extend axially from the base 724 in a direction toward the closed end644 of the bowl 536, when the basket 720 is operably assembled in use.

The basket 720 further includes a plurality of petals 726 extendingaxially from the base 724. In the embodiment shown, there are fourpetals 726 extending axially from the base 724 in a direction toward theopen mouth 642 of the bowl 536, when the basket 720 is operablyassembled in use. Thus, the petals 726 extend axially in a directionopposite from the legs 722. The petals 726 are evenly spaced relative toeach other. Each of the petals 726, in the embodiment shown, defines anopen flow aperture 728, an upper end tip 730, and an angled ramp surface732. The ramp surface 732 slants downwardly from the end tip 730 down tothe base 724.

When the basket 720 is operably assembled with the core piece 682 andinstalled within the filter bowl 536, the basket 720 is rotationallymoveable from a locked position in which a free end 734 of each of thelegs 720 axially engages or abuts the engagement end 684 of the guiderails 678 on the filter support 654. The basket 720 is moveablerotationally from the locked position to an unlocked position, theunlocked position being when the legs 722 are free of axial abutmentbetween the free ends 734 and the engagement ends 684 of the guide rails678 to permit the basket 720 to move axially in a direction toward theclosed end 644 of the bowl 536. This is further described in conjunctionwith the lock-out mechanism, described in Section H below.

The ramp surface 732 on the petals 726 are constructed and arranged tomove or rotate the basket 720 from its locked position to its unlockedposition by engagement with a portion of the filter cartridge 538. Inparticular, there will be engagement between the ribs 568 on the firstendcap 541 and the ramped surface 732 of each of the petals 726. This isdescribed further below in the lock-out mechanism section, Section H.

The basket 220 further includes a center tube 736 extending from thebase 724. The center tube 736 defines a post-receiving aperture 738sized to receive a post 740 of the core piece 682. The post 740 and corepiece 682 are described below in Section G.

Extending between each petal 726 and the center tube 736 is a web 742.In the embodiment shown, there are four webs 742. The webs 742 help tosupport the center tube 736 and connect it with the rest of the basket720. Each of the webs 742 also helps to hold an upper spring 744, suchthat the basket 720 is biased relative to the core piece 682 to keep thebasket 720 in the locked position. The function of the upper spring 744as part of the lock-out mechanism is described in Section H.

G. Core Piece 682 and Locking Spring 716

In reference now to FIG. 47, one embodiment of core piece 682 isillustrated in perspective view. A cross-sectional view of the corepiece is illustrated in FIGS. 45, 46, 48, 50, and 54. In general, thecore piece 682 is operably oriented within the filtered liquid volume674, and within the interior of the inner filter support 654.

As can be seen in FIG. 47, in the embodiment shown, the core piece 682includes a post 740, a center member 770, and a plug 752. In theembodiment shown, the core piece 682 extends a length that, in certainpreferred embodiments, will be longer than the length of the media 544.

In the embodiment shown, at one free end of the post 740, a button 748is defined. Adjacent to the button 748 is a reduced dimension region inthe form of a neck 750. The post 740 is received within the postreceiving aperture 738 of the basket 720, and the retention mechanism572 (FIG. 56) engages the post 740 at the button 748. Specifically, thegripper arrangement 576 holds the post 740 at the button 748 by havingfingers 580, 581 engage the neck 750 of the post 740. See FIG. 57.Further operational details of the retention arrangement are discussedbelow in Section J.

In the embodiment shown, the core piece 682 further includes plug 752moveably oriented between a sealed position (FIGS. 50 and 53) and adrainage position (FIGS. 54 and 55) within the drainage aperture 669 ofthe porous inner filter support 654. In addition, the plug 752 has athird position, which is a position when it is locked in place duringservicing awaiting the insertion of filter cartridge 538. This thirdlocked position is illustrated in FIG. 48.

When the plug 752 is in the sealed position, the plug 752 blocks fluidflow between the interior volume 640 of the bowl 536 and the drainageaperture 669. When the plug 752 is in the drainage position, the plug752 is oriented relative to the bowl 536 to permit flow from theinterior volume 640 of the bowl 536 through the drainage aperture 669.

The plug 752, in the embodiment shown, includes a first groove 754 (FIG.47) holding a first seal member 756 (FIG. 46) spaced from but adjacentto the first groove 754 is a second groove 758 (FIG. 47). Oriented inthe second groove 758 is a second seal member 760 (FIG. 46). The firstseal member 756 forms a first seal 762 (FIG. 53) between the plug 752and the inner wall of the stem 668 within the drainage aperture 669.Thus, in this embodiment, the first seal 762 is between a portion of theporous inner filter support 654 and the core piece 682. The first seal762 blocks unfiltered liquid from the unfiltered liquid volume, which isin the open interior volume 640 but upstream of and outside of thefilter media 544, from flowing through the porous neck 696 and into thedrain aperture 669.

Still in reference to FIG. 53, the second seal member 760 forms a secondseal 764 between the plug member 752 of the core piece 682 and an innerflow conduit 766 (FIG. 48) of the filter support 654. As such, thesecond seal 764 seals against unfiltered liquid from the unfilteredliquid volume 698 (FIG. 50) from reaching the filtered liquid volume 674(FIG. 50). The second seal 764 also prevents liquid from the filteredliquid volume 674 from flowing downwardly into the unfiltered liquidvolume 698.

The plug 752 is discussed more fully below in Section I, in connectionwith its contribution to the drain valve mechanism.

In reference again to FIG. 47, in the example embodiment shown, the corepiece 682 includes center member 770. In this specific embodiment, thecenter member 770 extends between the post 740 and the plug 752. Thecore piece 682, in this embodiment, includes a plurality of guide fins772 radially extending from the center member 770. The guide fins 772help to hold the core piece 682 centered within the inner filter support654. The guide fins 772 are also a component, in this embodiment, of thedrain valve mechanism, discussed in Section I below.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 47, at least two of the guide fins 772define slots 774. In the embodiment shown, the slots 774 are, ingeneral, U-shaped openings that extend from an outer edge of the guidefins 772 partially inwardly toward the center member 770. The guide fins774 receive a portion of the locking spring 716, when the core piece 682is operably assembled in use with the parts shown in this exampleembodiment.

In the embodiment shown, between adjacent ones of the fins 272 is areceiving gap 276. As will be explained below, the receiving gap 276helps to orient and hold other portions of the locking spring 216.

Still in reference to FIG. 47 and in reference to FIG. 58, in theembodiment shown, the core piece 682 further includes a basket holder778. In this embodiment, the basket holder 778 supports the basket 720and allows the basket 720 to move between its locked position and itsunlocked position. In the embodiment shown, the basket holder 778includes an apertured frame 780 extending radially from the centermember 770. The apertured frame 780 is supported by a plurality ofgussets 782. In the embodiment shown, there are four gussets 782supporting the apertured frame 780. The apertured frame 780 definesleg-receiving apertures 784 (FIG. 58), such that the legs 722 of thebasket 720 can penetrate the basket holder 778, by having the legs 722pass through the apertures 784. The apertures 784 generally have acenter axis that is parallel to the center member 770.

Extending axially from the apertured frame 780 in a direction toward theopen mouth 642, when the core piece 682 is assembled in use, is aplurality of flanges 786. In the embodiment shown, there are fourflanges 786 evenly spaced apart and circumscribing or surrounding thepost 740. Each of the flanges 786 defines a pair of openings 788, 789therethrough. A groove 790 separates each flange 786 from an adjacentflange 786.

The locking spring 716 includes a horizontal member 800, a pair ofshoulders 801, 802 at the end of the horizontal member 800, and a pairof hooked arms 804, 805 extending from respective shoulders 801, 802.The hooked arms 804, 805 terminate with hooks 806, 807. The shoulders801, 802 are generally positioned within the fin slots 774, and thehorizontal member 800 extends across the core piece 682. The lockingspring 716 functions to limit the vertical motion of the core piece 682.

H. Operation of The Lock-Out Mechanism

As mentioned above, it may be desirable to have in the filter system 530a mechanism that will ensure that the filter system 530 cannot beoperated unless the filter cartridge 538 has been operably assembledwithin the filter bowl 536. A lock-out mechanism will achieve thisobjective.

Reference is first made to FIGS. 44 and 45, which show this embodimentof filter bowl 536 and the filter support 554 and core piece 682operably assembled therein. In FIG. 45, the filter cartridge 538 is notwithin the filter bowl 536. FIG. 45 would be, for example, the state ofthe filter bowl 536 during servicing, after the old filter cartridge 538has been removed.

In FIG. 45, the basket 720 is snap-fitted to the post 740, and thebasket 720 is oriented in its locked position by the bias of the upperspring 744. In particular, the upper spring 744 is oriented such that itbiases the basket 720 into the locked position by rotational forceexerted between the webs 742 and the resistance to that force because ofengagement between the legs 722 and the leg receiving apertures 784.

When the basket 720 is in its locked position, each of the legs 722 hasits free end 734 in engagement with the engagement end 684 of the guiderails 678. In this position, without filter cartridge 538 installed inthe filter bowl 536, the tips 730 of the petals 726 will contact orengage against the ribs 636 of the adaptor 564. See FIG. 48. Because thelegs 722 are resting on top of the guide rails 678, the core piece 682and the basket 220 cannot move axially downwardly in a direction towardthe closed end 644 of the bowl 536. Instead, the entire inner linerassembly 792 is in an extended and rigidly fixed position. As can beseen in FIG. 48, in this rigidly fixed position, the filter head 532cannot matably connect with the bowl 536 by connection between thethreads 658 on the bowl 536 and the threads 620 on the filter head 532.

During servicing, when a new filter cartridge 538 has been provided, thefilter cartridge 538 is oriented in the filter bowl 536 by placing itthrough the open mouth 642.

Attention is directed to FIGS. 50 and 52. When the filter cartridge 538is properly positioned in the filter bowl 536, the ribs 568 on the firstendcap 541 come in contact or engage the ramped surfaces 732 of thebasket 720. As the filter cartridge 538 moves axially downwardly towardthe closed end 644 of the filter bowl 638, the ribs 568 on the endcap541 engage against the ramped surfaces 732 of the petals 726 of thebasket 720. This engagement between the ribs 568 and ramped surfaces 732cause the basket 720 to rotate from its locked position to its unlockedposition against the spring 744. The rotation is 20-40 degrees, forexample, about 25-28 degrees. As the basket 720 rotates from its lockedposition to its unlocked position, the legs 722 also rotate moving awayfrom the engagement against the engagement end 684 of the guide rails678. At some point, prior to the basket 720 rotating its full motion(for example, between 525 and 528 degrees), the legs 722 completelyclear the guide rails 678. At this point, any additional movement of thefilter cartridge 538 in a downwardly axial direction toward the closedend 644 will cause the basket 720 and core piece 682 to also move inthat direction against the lower spring 710. The lower spring 710 biasesthe basket 720 and the core piece 682 in the extended position of FIG.45.

Once the filter cartridge 538 has been moved downwardly enough to unlockthe core piece 682 and move the basket 720 from its locked position toits unlocked position, the filter head 532 will be able to matablyengage the threads on the bowl 536 for secure attachment, as shown inFIG. 50.

I. Drain Valve Mechanism

The filter system 530 depicted also has a drain valve mechanism to allowliquid in the complete assembly to automatically be drained during theservicing of the system 530. The drain valve mechanism can beimplemented independently of other features in the example embodiment.For example, the drain valve mechanism can be implemented independent ofthe lock-out mechanism and of the cartridge retention mechanism.

Attention is directed to FIGS. 50 and 53-55. In FIG. 50, when the filtercartridge 538 is operably positioned in the filter bowl 536 and with thebowl 536 being fully threaded on the filter head 532 as shown in FIG.50, the plug 752 is in the closed and sealed position. In this position,there is in place the first seal 762 and second seal 764.

The second seal 764 seals off liquid located on the clean side, in thefiltered liquid volume 674 (FIG. 50), from port 794 that is fluidlyconnected to the unfiltered liquid volume 698 (FIG. 50). First seal 762seals off liquid from port 794 from the drainage aperture 669 that isdirected to the outside environment.

The lower spring 710 is located in the spring-holding seat 708 and alower edge 796 of the guide fins 772. With the filter cartridge 538operably positioned in the bowl 536 and the filter head 532 fullyengaged and connected to the bowl 536, the lower spring 710 is acompressed state and is producing a force acting along the central axisof the filter cartridge 538, thereby holding the core piece 682 andbasket 720 against the ribs 68 that are integral in the first endcap541. Further, projections 590, 594 integral to the outward axial surface554 of the first endcap 541 are held against the lower edge or rim 632(FIG. 49) of the adaptor 564. Because the first endcap 541 is part ofthe filter cartridge 538, the entire assembly including the cartridgeand the inner liner assembly 792 is held up against the adaptor 564.

When it is time to service the filter cartridge 538, because the media544 becomes clogged or restricted, or if it just time to replace thecartridge 538 because of wear, the filter assembly 534 will be rotatedabout its central axis relative to the filter head 532. As this occurs,the filter assembly 534 moves downwardly along the central axis due tounthreading action between the bowl 536 and the filter head 532. Whilethis downward action is occurring, the lower spring 710 continues tohold the filter cartridge 538 against the adaptor 564. The result ofthis is that the filter cartridge 538 remains fixed in position relativeto the adaptor 564 and filter head 532 as the filter bowl 536 movesaxially downwardly. This action creates relative motion between the plug252 and the sealing surfaces forming the first and second seals 762,764. After two full turns of the filter bowl 536, the drainage aperture669 is fully open to the fluid in both the unfiltered liquid volume 698and the filtered liquid volume 674, allowing the liquid to flow alongflow paths 798, 799 (FIG. 55) into the outside environment, where it canbe captured by some kind of container for proper disposal.

At this point, the core piece 682 can no longer move relative to theinner filter support 654. Locking spring 716 is attached to the corepiece 682 by way of slots 774 in the guide fins 772 (See FIG. 47).

With the filter cartridge 538 fully installed in the bowl 536, the hooks806, 807, in particular, ends 808, 809 of the hooks 806, 807, of thelocking spring 716 are spring-loaded against the slide tracks 681 in theguide rails 678 within the wall 670 of the filter support 654.

As the core piece 682 moves upwardly in a direction toward the openmouth 642 of the bowl 536, relative to the filter support 654, thelocking spring 716, being attached to the core piece 682 through theslots 774, moves with the core piece 682 until the two ends 808, 809 ofthe locking spring 716 move radially outwardly and into receiving slots714 in the wall 670 of the filter support 654. See FIG. 48. The ends808, 809 of the locking spring 716 lock into a position relative to thefilter support 654 preventing the core piece 682 from moving anyfurther. This prevents the core piece 682 from falling out of the filterbowl 536 after the filter cartridge 538 has been removed.

As can be seen in FIG. 48, the plug 752 is in a third position, axiallyabove the drainage position, the position of FIG. 48 of the plug 752 isthe position when the core piece 682 is locked in place during servicingawaiting the insertion of filter cartridge 538.

J. Cartridge Retention Mechanism 572

The preferred embodiment illustrated of the filter system 530 includes acartridge retention mechanism 572, to releasably hold the filtercartridge 538 within the filter bowl 536 during servicing. The cartridgeretention mechanism 572 can be implemented independently of otherfeatures in the filtration system, including independent of the lock-outmechanism and of the drain valve mechanism.

Attention is directed to FIGS. 56 and 57. These FIGS are schematic andthe filter media 544 is not illustrated for purposes of clarity. Rather,only the first endcap 541 is shown, along with a portion of the innerliner assembly 792.

When the core piece 682 is in the position shown in FIG. 48, locked inits upward vertical direction, the post 740 is positioned relative tothe first endcap 541 such that fingers 580, 581 on the endcap 541 arelocated underneath button 748. Specifically, the fingers 580, 581 aregripping the neck 750. Any further downward motion in the axialdirection of the bowl 536 including the inner liner assembly 792 causesthe neck 750 to come into contact with the fingers 580, 581, applying anaxial downward force on the entire filter cartridge 538. The net resultis that the cartridge 538 remains inside the bowl 536 during the lastfull turn of the bowl 536 as it is removed from the filter head 532.

With the filter assembly 534 now completely separated from the filterhead 532, the filter cartridge 538 remains captured in the filter bowl536 by the engagement between the fingers 580, 581 of the gripperarrangement 576 and the button 748 of the post 740. In order to releasethe filter cartridge 538 from the bowl 536, the release arrangement 578is depressed. Specifically, the tabs 582, 583 are pressed radiallyinwardly toward each other and toward the post 740 by the thumb andforefinger of the person providing the servicing. This causes thefingers 580, 581 to move away from the neck 750 of the post 740,allowing the fingers 580, 581 to clear the button 748.

The thumb and forefinger of the service person is on the tabs 582, 583,and the service person can now pull the filter cartridge 538 clear ofthe button 748 and remove the cartridge 538 from the bowl 536.

It should be understood that in order for the tabs 582, 583 to deflectinwardly and cause the fingers 580, 581 to deflect outwardly, theretention mechanism 572 is made from a material flexible enough toprovide that function with an amount of force that can be generated bythe squeezing action of a thumb and forefinger. This material maytypically be plastic, although it can be other materials as well.

K. Methods

A method for draining liquid from the filter system 530 should now beapparent from the foregoing. One method can include at least partiallyunscrewing the filter bowl 536 containing the filter cartridge 538 fromthe filter head 532 and permitting lower spring 710 to axially move corepiece 682 having plug 752 from the sealed position shown in FIGS. 50 and53 to a drainage position, shown in FIGS. 54 and 55. The sealed positionincludes the plug 752 blocking fluid flow between the unfiltered liquidvolume 698 and the fluid outlet port, shown as drainage aperture 669, byblocking flow through a section, such as stem 668, of the inner filtersupport 654. The drainage position includes the plug 752 being orientedrelative to the inner filter support 654 to permit flow through thedrain aperture 669 of the stem 668, and permitting flow from theunfiltered liquid volume 698 and the drainage aperture 669.

A method of installing the filter cartridge 538 in the filter bowl 536should also now be apparent. One method includes orienting the filtercartridge 538 into the filter bowl 536. The method further includeswhile orienting the filter cartridge 538, pushing the filter cartridge538 against the core piece 682 to disengage the core piece 682 and theinner filter support 654. This is done, specifically, by engaging theribs 568 of the first endcap 541 against the ramped surfaces 732 of thebasket 720, causing rotation of the basket 720 against the spring 744,which causes the legs 722 to move out of axial abutment between the ends734 and the engagement 684 of the guide rails 678. The legs 722 are thenallowed to move axially downwardly within the outer wall 670 of thefilter support 654. Next, after disengaging, the method includes axiallymoving both the filter cartridge 538 and the core piece 682 relative tothe inner filter support 654. Specifically, the filter cartridge 538pushes the basket 720 and the core piece 682 axially downwardly relativeto the filter support 654. This then permits mating engagement betweenthe filter head 532 and the filter bowl 536.

To service the filter system 530, the filter bowl 536 is unscrewed fromthe filter head 532. As this is done, the core piece 682 moves axiallyrelative to the filter support 654, until the locking spring 716 becomeslocked in place relative to the inner filter support 654. Specifically,the ends 808, 809 of the hooks 806, 807 travel along the slide tracks681 of the guide rails 678 until they snap through the slots 714. Whenthe locking spring 716 has its ends 808, 809 snap into the slots 714,the core piece 682 is axially locked relative to the porous inner filtersupport 654.

As the core piece 682 moves axially upwardly relative to the filtersupport 654, the button 748 on the post 740 became gripped by thegripper arrangement 576 of the first endcap 541 of the filter cartridge538. The filter assembly 534 is removed from the filter head 532, andthe filter cartridge 538 stays with the filter bowl 536. The user thengrips the release arrangement 578, by placing his forefinger and thumbon the tabs 582, 583. The person squeezes the tabs 582, 583 in adirection toward the post 740. This causes the deflection of the fingers580, 581, such that they move radially away from the neck 750 of thebutton 748.

With the cartridge 538 now disengaged from the core piece 682, the userremoves the cartridge 538 from the bowl 536 by maintaining the grip onthe tabs 582, 583, to axially pull the cartridge 538 from the bowl 536.The old filter cartridge is then disposed.

A new filter cartridge is then installed. A method of installing thefilter cartridge has been described above and is then followed.

A method of filtering includes directing liquid to be filtered into thefilter head 532 through the inlet conduit 614. The liquid then flowsinto the unfiltered liquid volume 698. The liquid is prevented frombypassing the filter media 544 by the seal 612 between the second endcap542 and the base 686 of the porous inner filter support 654; and seal 62between the first endcap 541 and the adaptor 564. Further, the seal 764helps to seal against the liquid from bypassing the media 544. Theliquid then flows through the filter media 544, through the flowpassages 672 in the porous inner filter support 654, and then into thefiltered liquid filter volume 674. The filtered liquid then flowsthrough the first open aperture 550 (FIG. 43), through the open aperture628 of the adaptor 564 and then through the outlet conduit 616 of thefilter head 532.

1-57. (canceled)
 58. A filter cartridge for use in a filter bowl; the filter cartridge comprising: (a) a first end cap defining a first open aperture; (i) the first end cap holding a first end cap seal member; (ii) the first end cap defining an aperture wall lining the first open aperture; (iii) at least first and second protrusions extending from the aperture wall and into the first open aperture; the at least first and second protrusions engaging a lock-out mechanism in a filter bowl, when the filter cartridge is operably installed in the filter bowl; (A) the first protrusion being spaced from the second protrusion in a vertical direction along the aperture wall; (B) the first protrusion being circumferentially spaced from the second protrusion along the aperture wall; (iv) the first end cap defines an axially extending neck defining an outer radial surface; (A) the first end cap seal member is held by the axially extending neck on the outer radial surface; (b) a tubular construction of filter media defining an open filter interior and having first and second opposite ends; the first end being secured to the first end cap; (i) the first open aperture being in communication with the open filter interior; and (c) a second end cap secured to the second end of the filter media; the second end cap defining a second open aperture in communication with the open filter interior; (i) the second end cap holding a second end cap seal member.
 59. A filter cartridge according to claim 58 wherein: (a) the first open aperture of the first end cap defines an inner diameter; (b) the first protrusion extends into the first open aperture no greater than 40% of the inner diameter of the first open aperture; and (c) the second protrusion extends in the first open aperture no greater than 40% of the inner diameter of the first open aperture.
 60. A filter cartridge according to claim 58 wherein: (a) the first protrusion and second protrusion are located circumferentially spaced within 50° of each other.
 61. A filter cartridge according to claim 58 wherein: (a) the first protrusion and the second protrusion are located greater than 45° of each other.
 62. A filter cartridge according to claim 58 wherein: (a) the first open aperture of the first end cap defines an inner diameter; (b) the vertical distance between the first and second protrusions is 2-30% of the inner diameter.
 63. A filter cartridge according to claim 58 further comprising: (a) at least a third protrusion extending from the aperture wall and into the first open aperture; (i) the third protrusion being circumferentially spaced from the first protrusion and the second protrusion; (ii) the third protrusion being vertically spaced from only one of either the first protrusion or the second protrusion.
 64. A filter cartridge according to claim 63 further comprising: (a) at least a fourth protrusion extending from the aperture wall and into the first open aperture; (i) the fourth protrusion being circumferentially spaced from the first, second, and third protrusions; and (ii) the fourth protrusion being vertically spaced from only two of the first protrusion, the second protrusion, or the third protrusion.
 65. A filter cartridge according to claim 64 wherein: (a) two of the first, second, third, and fourth protrusions are circumferentially spaced within 45° of each other; and a remaining two of the first, second, third, and fourth protrusions are circumferentially spaced within 45° of each other.
 66. A filter cartridge according to claim 58 wherein: (a) the neck defines an inner radial surface forming a portion of the aperture wall; and (i) only one of the first and second protrusions extends from the inner radial surface of the neck.
 67. A filter cartridge according to claim 66 wherein: (a) the first end cap defines a filter media holding section having an inner media wall; the inner media wall defining an inner radial surface which forms part of the aperture wall; (i) the inner radial surface of the inner media wall being spaced radially inwardly relative to the neck inner radial surface; (ii) only one of the first and second protrusions extends from the inner radial surface of the inner media wall.
 68. A filter cartridge according to claim 58 wherein: (a) the second end cap defines a second axially extending neck defining a radial surface; (i) the second end cap seal member is held by the second axially extending neck on the radial surface.
 69. A filter cartridge according to claim 58 wherein: (a) the first end cap further includes an axially projecting centering arrangement projecting from an outward axial surface thereof adjacent to an outer rim of the first end cap.
 70. A filter cartridge according to claim 58 further including: (a) a retention mechanism centered within the first open aperture and extending from the first end cap; the retention mechanism having a gripper arrangement and a release arrangement.
 71. A filter cartridge according to claim 70 wherein: (a) the gripper arrangement includes a pair of opposing fingers radially extending toward each other; and (b) the release arrangement includes a pair of opposing tabs, each tab being located about 90° relative to the fingers.
 72. A filter cartridge according to claim 58 wherein: (a) the filter media is pleated media.
 73. A filter assembly for attachment to a filter head; the filter assembly comprising: (a) a bowl including a surrounding wall defining an interior volume, an open mouth, and an end opposite of the mouth; (i) the bowl end defining a drainage aperture in fluid communication with the interior volume; (b) a filter cartridge removably oriented within the interior volume of the bowl; the filter cartridge including a tubular construction of filter media defining an open filter interior; (c) a porous inner filter support oriented within the open filter interior; the filter support including at least one projection extending radially inwardly therefrom; and (d) a lockout mechanism having a first locked position and an unlocked position; the first locked position preventing a filter head from operably connecting to the bowl; the unlocked position permitting attachment of a filter head to the bowl; the lockout mechanism including a basket having a grooved wall extending axially in a direction toward the open mouth of the bowl and including at least one cantilevered leg extending axially in a direction toward the end of the bowl; the basket defining a central longitudinal axis; (i) the basket being rotationally movable about the central longitudinal axis from the first locked position in which the leg axially abuts the at least one projection on the filter support and the unlocked position in which the leg is free of axial abutment with the projection and permits the basket to move in a direction toward the end of the bowl; and (ii) the grooved wall being constructed and arranged to rotate the basket from the first locked position to the unlocked position by engagement with a protrusion arrangement that is part of optionally either the filter cartridge or an adapter ring.
 74. A filter assembly according to claim 73 wherein: (a) the basket is rotationally movable from the first locked position, in which the leg axially abuts the at least one projection on the filter support, to a second locked position in which the leg is partially free of abutment against the at least one projection on the filter support; (b) the grooved wall has at least a first groove with a first slide surface and a second groove with a second slide surface; (i) the grooved wall being constructed and arranged to engage a portion of the filter cartridge at the first slide surface of the first groove and rotate the basket from the first locked position to the second locked position exposing the second slide surface of the second groove; and (ii) the second slide surface of the second groove is constructed and arranged to engage the filter cartridge and rotate the basket from the second locked position to the unlocked position.
 75. A filter assembly according to claim 74 further comprising: (a) a core piece operably oriented within an interior of the porous inner filter support; the core piece including a post and a basket-holder; (i) the basket including a plurality of cantilevered legs; (ii) the basket holder having a slotted wall circumscribing the post and spokes joining the slotted wall to the post; adjacent spokes defining leg-receiving apertures; (iii) the legs of the basket extending into the leg-receiving apertures; (b) the basket having a hollow column circumscribed by the grooved wall; the post extending through the hollow column.
 76. A filter assembly according to claim 75 wherein: (a) the basket further includes flanges extending between the column and the grooved wall; (b) the at least one projection on the filter support comprises a plurality of guide rails constructed and arranged to slidably hold the core piece; and (c) the assembly further includes a spring operably oriented between the flanges to bias the basket rotationally within the basket holder into the locked position.
 77. A filter assembly according to claim 73 wherein: (a) the filter cartridge includes a first end cap defining a first open aperture; (i) the first end cap defining an aperture wall lining the first open aperture; (ii) at least first and second protrusions being the protrusion arrangement extending from the aperture wall and into the first open aperture; (A) the first protrusion being spaced from the second protrusion in a vertical direction along the aperture wall; (B) the first protrusion being circumferentially spaced from the second protrusion along the aperture wall; (1) the first protrusion being constructed and arranged to engage the first slide surface of the first groove; and (2) the second protrusion being constructed and arranged to engage the second slide surface of the second groove.
 78. A filter assembly according to claim 73 wherein: (a) the filter cartridge includes a first end cap defining a first open aperture; (b) the basket is rotationally movable from the first locked position, in which the leg axially abuts the at least one projection on the filter support, to a second locked position in which the leg is partially free of abutment against the at least one projection on the filter support; (c) the grooved wall has at least a first groove with a first slide surface and a second groove with a second slide surface; and the filter assembly further includes, (d) the adapter ring operably mounted around the basket; the adapter ring defining an adapter aperture and having an aperture wall; (i) at least first and second protrusions being the protrusion arrangement extending from the aperture wall and into the adapter aperture; (A) the first protrusion being spaced from the second protrusion in a vertical direction along the aperture wall; (B) the first protrusion being circumferentially spaced from the second protrusion along the aperture wall; (1) the first protrusion being constructed and arranged to engage the first slide surface of the first groove; and (2) the second protrusion being constructed and arranged to engage the second slide surface of the second groove.
 79. A filter assembly according to claim 73 further comprising: (a) a core piece operably oriented within an interior of the porous inner filter support; the core piece including a post; (b) wherein the filter cartridge includes a retention mechanism removably connected to the post.
 80. A filter assembly according to claim 73 further comprising: (a) a drain valve assembly including a plug moveably oriented between a sealed position and a drainage position; (i) the sealed position including the plug blocking fluid flow between the interior volume of the bowl and the drainage aperture; and (ii) the drainage position including the plug being oriented relative to the bowl to permit flow from the interior volume of the bowl through the drainage aperture.
 81. A filter assembly according to claim 80 further comprising: (a) a core piece operably oriented within an interior of the porous inner filter support; the core piece including a post having a head movably oriented between an engaged position and a released position; (i) the engaged position including the head being oriented against the plug to push the plug into the sealed position; and (ii) the released position including the head being spaced away from the plug to allow the plug to move to the drainage position.
 82. A filter assembly according to claim 81 wherein: (a) the core piece further includes a fin arrangement; the head of the post includes a radial flange; (b) the porous inner filter support further includes an inwardly extending support and a plurality of guide rails; (i) the radial flange of the head is movably engaged against a lower surface of the support, when the head is in the released position; (ii) the fin arrangement is slidably positioned within the plurality of guide rails; and (c) the filter assembly further includes a core piece spring operably oriented between the fin arrangement and an upper surface of the support.
 83. A filter assembly according to claim 81 wherein: (a) the drain valve assembly includes: (i) a valve housing having a tubular wall; the plug being oriented within the tubular wall and being axially movable therewithin; (ii) a spring around the valve housing tubular wall and pushing against a portion of the plug; (iii) a first plug seal member secured to the plug and forming a first plug seal with the valve housing; the first plug seal preventing unfiltered fluid from bypassing the filter media and flowing into the open filter interior, when the plug is in the sealed position; (iv) a second plug seal member secured to the plug and forming a second plug seal with the valve housing; the second plug seal preventing fluid from flowing from the bowl through the drainage aperture; (v) a first valve seal member secured to the valve housing and forming a first valve seal with a disk connected to the bowl; the first valve seal preventing unfiltered fluid from bypassing the filter media and flowing into the open filter interior; and (vi) a second valve seal member secured to the valve housing and forming a second valve seal with the bowl; the second valve seal preventing fluid from flowing from the bowl through the drainage aperture.
 84. A filter assembly according to claim 83 wherein: (a) the valve housing tubular wall defines an open slot arrangement allowing fluid flow therethrough.
 85. A filter system comprising: (a) a filter assembly including, (i) a bowl including a surrounding wall defining an interior volume, an open mouth, and an end opposite of the mouth; the bowl end defining a drainage aperture in fluid communication with the interior volume; (ii) a filter cartridge removably oriented within the interior volume of the bowl; the filter cartridge including a tubular construction of filter media defining an open filter interior; (iii) a porous inner filter support oriented within the open filter interior; the filter support including at least one projection extending radially inwardly therefrom; and (iv) a lockout mechanism having a first locked position and an unlocked position; the first locked position preventing a filter head from operably connecting to the bowl; the unlocked position permitting attachment of a filter head to the bowl; the lockout mechanism including a basket having a grooved wall extending axially in a direction toward the open mouth of the bowl and including at least one cantilevered leg extending axially in a direction toward the end of the bowl; the basket defining a central longitudinal axis; (A) the basket being rotationally movable about the central longitudinal axis from the first locked position in which the leg axially abuts the at least one projection on the filter support and the unlocked position in which the leg is free of axial abutment with the projection and permits the basket to move in a direction toward the end of the bowl; and (B) the grooved wall being constructed and arranged to rotate the basket from the first locked position to the unlocked position by engagement with a protrusion arrangement that is part of optionally either the filter cartridge or an adapter ring; and (b) a filter head selectively connectable to the bowl; (i) the bowl and the filter head having mating structure permitting the bowl to be selectively removably attached to the filter head at the mouth.
 86. A method of installing a filter cartridge into a filter bowl; the method comprising: (a) orienting a filter cartridge having a tubular construction of filter media into a filter bowl having an open mouth; (i) the filter bowl having an inner filter support mounted therein; (ii) the filter bowl further having a core piece within the inner filter support; the core piece holding a basket having a grooved wall extending axially in a direction toward the open mouth of the bowl; the basket defining a central longitudinal axis; the basket being rotationally movable about the central longitudinal axis; (iii) the core piece and the inner filter support engaging against each other as part of a lock-out mechanism; (b) while orienting, pushing the filter cartridge against the basket to rotate the basket and disengage the core piece and the inner filter support; and (c) after disengaging, axially moving both the filter cartridge and the core piece relative to the inner filter support.
 87. A method according to claim 86 wherein: (a) the basket includes at least one cantilevered leg extending axially in a direction toward the end of the bowl; (b) the inner filter support includes at least one inwardly radially extending projection; and (c) the step of pushing includes: (i) engaging a first protrusion extending from the filter cartridge against the grooved wall of the basket to partially rotate the basket and then, (ii) engaging a second protrusion extending from the filter cartridge against the grooved wall of the basket to further rotate the basket and move the cantilevered leg from engagement against the inwardly radially extending projection on the inner filter support.
 88. A filter assembly comprising: (a) a bowl including a surrounding wall defining an interior volume, an open mouth, and an end opposite of the mouth; (i) the bowl end defining a drainage aperture in fluid communication with the interior volume; (b) a filter cartridge removably oriented within the interior volume of the bowl; the filter cartridge including a tubular construction of filter media defining an open filter interior; (c) a porous inner filter support oriented within the open filter interior; and (d) a drain valve assembly including a plug moveably oriented between a sealed position and a drainage position; (i) the sealed position including the plug blocking fluid flow between the interior volume of the bowl and the drainage aperture; and (ii) the drainage position including the plug being oriented relative to the bowl to permit flow from the interior volume of the bowl through the drainage aperture; (iii) the drain valve assembly including: (A) a valve housing having a tubular wall; the plug being oriented within the tubular wall and being axially movable therewithin; (B) a spring around the valve housing tubular wall and pushing against a portion of the plug; (C) a first plug seal member secured to the plug and forming a first plug seal with the valve housing; the first plug seal preventing unfiltered fluid from bypassing the filter media and flowing into the open filter interior, when the plug is in the sealed position; (D) a second plug seal member secured to the plug and forming a second plug seal with the valve housing; the second plug seal preventing fluid from flowing from the bowl through the drainage aperture; (E) a first valve seal member secured to the valve housing and forming a first valve seal with a disk connected to the bowl; the first valve seal preventing unfiltered fluid from bypassing the filter media and flowing into the open filter interior; and (F) a second valve seal member secured to the valve housing and forming a second valve seal with the bowl; the second valve seal preventing fluid from flowing from the bowl through the drainage aperture.
 89. A filter assembly according to claim 88 further comprising: (a) a core piece operably oriented within an interior of the porous inner filter support; the core piece including a post having a head movably oriented between an engaged position and a released position; (i) the engaged position including the head being oriented against the plug to push the plug into the sealed position; and (ii) the released position including the head being spaced away from the plug to allow the plug to move to the drainage position.
 90. A filter assembly according to claim 89 wherein: (a) the core piece further includes a fin arrangement; the head of the post includes a radial flange; (b) the porous inner filter support further includes an inwardly extending support and a plurality of guide rails; (i) the radial flange of the head is movably engaged against a lower surface of the support, when the head is in the released position; (ii) the fin arrangement is slidably positioned within the plurality of guide rails; and (c) the filter assembly further includes a core piece spring operably oriented between the fin arrangement and an upper surface of the support.
 91. A filter assembly according to claim 89 wherein: (a) the valve housing tubular wall defines an open slot arrangement allowing fluid flow therethrough.
 92. A filter assembly according to claim 88 further comprising: (a) a filter head selectively connectable to the bowl; (i) the bowl and the filter head having mating structure permitting the bowl to be selectively removably attached to the filter head at the mouth.
 93. A method for draining liquid from a filter assembly; the method comprising: (a) at least partially unscrewing a bowl containing a filter cartridge from a filter head and permitting a spring mounted around a valve housing tubular wall to axially move a plug oriented within the valve housing tubular wall from a sealed position to a drainage position; the bowl having an interior volume and a fluid outlet port; (i) the sealed position including: (A) a first plug seal member secured to the plug and forming a first plug seal with the valve housing tubular wall; the first plug seal blocking fluid flow between the interior volume of the bowl and the fluid outlet port and by blocking fluid flow between an upstream side of the filter cartridge and a downstream side of the filter cartridge; and (B) a second plug seal member secured to the plug and forming a second plug seal with the valve housing tubular wall; the second plug seal blocking fluid flow between the interior volume of the bowl and the fluid outlet port of the bowl; (ii) the drainage position including the plug being oriented within the valve housing to permit fluid flow between the interior volume of the bowl and the fluid outlet port of the bowl.
 94. A method according to claim 93 wherein: (a) the step of partially unscrewing a bowl includes permitting a core piece spring to move a core piece having a head axially out of engagement with the plug, permitting a valve spring to move the plug from the sealed position to the drainage position.
 95. A filter assembly comprising: (a) a bowl including a surrounding wall defining an interior volume, an open mouth, and an end opposite of the mouth; (b) a filter cartridge removably oriented within the interior volume of the bowl; the filter cartridge including a tubular construction of filter media defining an open filter interior; (c) a porous inner filter support oriented within the open filter interior; (d) a core piece operably oriented within an interior of the porous inner filter support; the core piece including a post; and (e) a retention mechanism constructed and arranged to removably connect the filter cartridge to the post.
 96. A filter assembly according to claim 95 wherein: (a) the post defines a button at a free end thereof; and (b) the retention mechanism includes a gripper arrangement and a release arrangement; (i) the gripper arrangement holding the post at the button; and (ii) the release arrangement being constructed and arranged such that upon squeezing the release arrangement, the gripper arrangement is disengaged from the post.
 97. A filter assembly according to claim 96 wherein: (a) the retention mechanism is part of an adapter ring located between the filter cartridge and the core piece.
 98. A filter assembly according to claim 96 wherein: (a) the retention mechanism is integral with an end cap of the filter cartridge.
 99. A filter assembly according to claim 95 wherein: (a) the core piece further includes a fin arrangement radially extending from the post; the post having a head at an end opposite of the button; (b) the porous inner filter support further includes an inwardly extending support and a plurality of guide rails; (i) head is movably engaged away from and against a lower surface of the support; (ii) the fin arrangement is slidably positioned within the plurality of guide rails; and (c) the filter assembly further includes a core piece spring operably oriented between the fin arrangement and an upper surface of the support to move the core axially within the porous inner filter support.
 100. A method for servicing a filter system; the method comprising: (a) removing a filter assembly, including a bowl containing a filter cartridge, from a filter head; and (b) during the step of removing, retaining the filter cartridge to the bowl by gripping, with a pair of opposing fingers radially extending toward each other, a button on a core piece attached to the bowl.
 101. An adapter ring for use with a filter bowl, the adapter ring comprising: (a) a circular band defining an open aperture; the band having an outer radial surface and an inside radial surface; the inside radial surface defining an aperture wall; (b) at least first and second protrusions extending from the aperture wall and into the open aperture; the at least first and second protrusions engaging a lock-out mechanism in a filter bowl, when the adapter ring is operably installed in the filter bowl; (i) the first protrusion being spaced from the second protrusion in a vertical direction along the aperture wall; (ii) the first protrusion being circumferentially spaced from the second protrusion along the aperture wall.
 102. An adapter ring according to claim 101 wherein: (a) the open aperture defines an inner diameter; (b) the first protrusion extends into the open aperture no greater than 40% of the inner diameter of the open aperture; (c) the second protrusion extends in the open aperture no greater than 40% of the inner diameter of the open aperture; and (d) the vertical distance between the first and second protrusions is 2-30% of the inner diameter.
 103. An adapter ring according to claim 102 further comprising: (a) at least a third protrusion extending from the aperture wall and into the open aperture; (i) the third protrusion being circumferentially spaced from the first protrusion and the second protrusion; (ii) the third protrusion being vertically spaced from only one of either the first protrusion or the second protrusion.
 104. A method of using an adapter ring to unlock a core piece and an inner filter support; the method comprising: (a) orienting an adapter ring having at least first and second protrusions into a filter bowl having an open mouth; (i) the filter bowl having an inner filter support mounted therein; (ii) the filter bowl further having a core piece within the inner filter support; the core piece holding a basket having a grooved wall extending axially in a direction toward the open mouth of the bowl; the basket defining a central longitudinal axis; the basket being rotationally movable about the central longitudinal axis; (iii) the core piece and the inner filter support engaging against each other as part of a lockout mechanism; (b) while orienting, pushing the first protrusion against the grooved wall of the basket and then the second protrusion against the grooved wall of the basket to rotate the basket and disengage the core piece and the inner filter support; and (c) after disengaging, axially moving the core piece relative to the inner filter support.
 105. A method according to claim 104 further including: (a) after the step of disengaging, operably installing a filter cartridge within the filter bowl; the filter cartridge having a tubular construction of filter media.
 106. A filter assembly comprising: (a) a bowl including a surrounding wall defining an interior volume, an open mouth, and an end opposite of the mouth; (i) the bowl end defining a drainage aperture in fluid communication with the interior volume; (b) a filter cartridge removably oriented within the interior volume of the bowl; the filter cartridge including a tubular construction of filter media defining an open filter interior; (c) a porous inner filter support oriented within the open filter interior; the inner filter support having an inner wall and outer wall defining a spring-holding seat therebetween; (d) a core piece operably oriented within an interior of the porous inner filter support; the core piece including a plug movably oriented between a sealed position and a drainage position within the drainage aperture of the bowl; the core piece including a center member having guide fins radially extending therefrom; (e) a spring located in the spring-holding seat and a lower edge of the guide fins; the spring axially moving the core piece and plug from the sealed position and a drainage position; (i) the sealed position including the plug blocking fluid flow between the interior volume of the bowl and the drainage aperture; and (ii) the drainage position including the plug being oriented relative to the bowl to permit flow from the interior volume of the bowl through the drainage aperture.
 107. A method for draining liquid from a filter assembly; the method comprising: (a) at least partially unscrewing a bowl containing a filter cartridge from a filter head and permitting a spring to axially move a core piece having a plug from a sealed position to a drainage position; the bowl having an interior volume and a fluid outlet port; the spring being in a spring-holding seat between an inner filter support inner wall and outer wall and an edge of guide fins; the guide fins radially extending from a center member of the core piece; (i) the sealed position including the plug blocking fluid flow between the interior volume of the bowl and the fluid outlet port by blocking flow through a section of the inner filter support; and (ii) the drainage position including the plug being oriented relative to the inner filter support to permit flow through the section of the inner filter support, permitting fluid flow between the interior volume of the bowl and the fluid outlet port of the bowl. 